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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 
Microfiche 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Sibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
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which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
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the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6X6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sent  peut-etre  uniquos  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


n 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagee 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur§e  et/ou  pelliculde 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Re\\6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  Mure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
I'istortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmdes. 


D 
D 
D 
0 

n 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolor^es,  tachet^es  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 


r~t  Showthrough/ 


n 


Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  indgale  de  ('impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


j      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I    includes  supplementary  material/ 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  ddilion  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  beer  tefilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  paoes  tcta!em«nt  cu  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuiiiet  d'errsia,  une  peiuru, 
etc.,  ont  dt^  film^es  d  nouveau  de  fagon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


^/ 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires; 


Various  pagings. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


J 


w.-uaJI 


32X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


MX 


plaire 
9S  details 
iquos  dtj 
nt  modifier 
xiger  une 
de  filmage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Ralph  Pickard  Bell  Library 

Mount  Allison  University 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Ralph  Pickard  Bell  Library 

Mount  Allison  University 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  Ij  condition  et 
de  la  nettet^  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


d/ 
[iju^es 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^h^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim^e  sont  filmds  en  cemmenqant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film^s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — '»- signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
stymbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


aire 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Stre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  it  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


by  errata 
ned  to 

tent 

une  peiluiu, 

fapon  d 


1 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

i 


{ 


A    POPULAR    HANDBOOK 


OF    THf. 


ORNITHOLOGY 


OF 


EASTERN    NORTH    AMERICA. 


IIV 

THOMAS   NUTTALL. 

SECOND  RHyiSED  /IND   ANNOTATED   EDITION 
Bv   .MONTAGLl':    CIIAMDERLAIN. 

WITH     ADDIIIOXS 
AND   UM-;    HlMiRr;D   AND   TEX    I  I.H  STRATtONS    I.\   COLORS. 


r*~m 


O) 


>- 

< 
CD 


J 


Vol,.   T. 


BOSTON: 

LITTLE,  IJROWX,  AND    COMPANY. 

1897. 


Copyns^ht,  1891,  1896, 
Little,  Hkown,  and  Company. 


Sinibcrsitjj  4|)rrss: 
John  Wiison  and  Son.  Camhridge,  U.S. A 


P  R  E  F  ACE 


TO    THE    SKCOXD    EDITIOX- 


nPHK  publication  of  a  new  edition  of  this  work  has 
enabled    me  to    correct  some    errors   which   oc- 
curred in  the  former  edition,  and  to  add  some  recent!)- 
iiisc<)\-ered  facts  of  distribution   and   habits.      We  have 
\ct  much  to  learn  about  the  birds  of  this  country,  but 
when  it   becomes   better   known   that  bird-life   displa>-s 
much  that  is  of  ra.e  interest  to  the  lovers  of  nature  and 
tc  the  thou.Lihtful,  contemplative  mind,— that  the  lives 
of  these  graceful  creatures  are  analogous  to  our  own  ; 
that  they  have  their  periods  of   infantile  helplessness, 
and  are  trained  for  future  self-reliance  ;   that  they  have 
their  love  affairs,  select  their  mates,  build  their  homes, 

and  foster  their  offspring  with  almost  human  instincts. 

we  may  safely  predict  an  ever-increasing  interest  in  the 
stud>-  of  these  liver,,  and  the  solving  of  many  problems 
which  baffle  the  student  of  to-day. 

M.  C. 

J>.\R  I  Iardok.  Maim;, 
Sep  fern  her,   1S96. 


m 


P  R  E  F  ACE. 


'"  I  ""HIS  work  is  practically  an  edition  of  "  A  Manual 
-*-        of  the  ( )riiitiiology  of  the   L'nitcd  States  and   of 
C.mada,"  written  by  'J^iO.MAS  NUTTALI,. 

Nuttall's  work  has  been  out  of  print  for  sever.d  years; 
but  its  popularity  and  real  value  have  ke{)t  it  in  demand, 
and  the  few  copijs  recently  offered  for  sale  were  dis- 
))osed  of  at  hisjjh  prices.  A  new  edition  was  thus  called 
f^r;  but  it  seemed  unwise  to  issue  the  work  in  its  orii^i- 
nal  form,  or  to  remodel  it  to  the  extent  that  would  be 
required  to  arrange  it  in  harmony  with  the  new  rcij^inw 
of  affairs  ornitholoj^ical ;  for  the  science  has  advanced 
rapidly  since  the  "Manual"  was  written,  and  the 
ch.cui'/es  effected  have  been  numerous  ami  imoortant. 
A  new  and  entirely  different  system  of  classification  has 
come  in  vogue;  the  nomenclature  has  been  altered  and 
trinomials  introduced;  and,  indeed,  little  is  left  of 
American  ornithology  as  Xuttall  knew  it,  except  the 
birds,  —  and  even  of  these,  two  species  have  become 
extinct,  and  a  large  nu'iiber  of  new  forms  have  been 
discovered. 

Thomas  Nuttall  came  to  this  country  from  England 
in    iSo8,  and  be  ween  1825  and   1834  held  the  positions 


\in 


I'kKi'ACi:. 


(»l  Cur.itor  of  the  Hotanic  dtirdcn  .iiul  Lecturer  on 
Nalur.il  Ilistoi')'  at  Harvard  Universit)-.  In  i<S4_>  lie 
iclurned  to  Ln.i;iand,  wliere  he  resided  until  his  de.itU 
in    \>'>y),  at  the  .iL;e   of  sevent}'-three. 

1  he  tirst  volume  of  the  "  Manual,"  containiiiL;  .ui 
account  of  the  Land  Hirds,  was  j)ublished  in  183J,  and 
a  second  edition,  u  ith  some  additional  matter,  ap[)eared 
in  1840.  The  second  volume,  of  which  one  edition  only 
u.i-  issued,  came  out  in  1834. 

1  he  "  Manual  "  was  the  hrst  hand-book  of  the  subject 
that  had  been  published,  and  its  deliL,ditful  sketches  of 
bird-life  <uid  its  fragrance  of  tile  field  and  forest  carried 
it  into  immediate  favor,  liut  Xuttall  was  more  than  a 
mere  lover  of  Nature,  he  had  considerable  scientific  at- 
tainment; and  thout;h  he  a[))iears  to  have  enjoyed  the 
stiuly  o(  bird-life  more  than  he  did  the  musty  side  of 
ornitholoL;;}',  with  its  dried  i^kins  and  drier  technicalities, 
he  had  an  eye  trained  for  careful  observation  and  a  stu- 
dent's respect  for  exact  statement.  It  was  this  rare  com- 
bination that  i:^a\'c;  to  Xuttall's  work  its  real  x'alue ;  and 
tliese  chapters  of  his  are  still  valuable,  —  much  too  wilu- 
ahle  to  be  lost;  for  if  a  u^reat  advance  has  been  made  in 
the  study  of  scientific  ornithology,  and  of  the  species 
that  occur  in  the  Western  half  of  the  continent,  our 
knowledge  of  the  life-histories  of  most  of  the  Eastern 
birds  has  been  advanced  but  little  beyond  that  left  us 
by  Nuttall  and  his  contemporaries, 

I  must  not  however  be  understood  as  undervaluing 
the  recent  work  of  the  "  American  School,"  as  they  are 
styled  by  luiropean  writers ;  for  it  may  be  said,  without 
exaggeration,  that  the  present  generation  of  workers 
in   this  field  have  placed  American  ornithology    quite 


I 


PKLIACE. 


IX 


abreast  of  that  of  an\'  other  couiitr)';  aiul,  uulccd,  as 
I  have  written  elsewhere  in  these  pages.  the\-  ha\'r  been 
called  "the  pioneers  of  modern  ornithological  science." 
Besides  their  more  technical  work,  the  American  stu- 
(Knts  have  written  some  of  the  best  chapters  of  bird 
biograi)hy  to  he  found  in  the  entire  range  of  ornitho- 
logical literature. 

While  this  is  but  a  frank  statement  of  facts,  wc  must 
concede  that  the  older  writers  noted  so  carefully  the 
habits  of  the  birds  they  knew  that  comparatively  little 
was   left  for  their  successors  to  discover. 

It  was  suggested  to  me  thai  the  new  might  be  com- 
binetl  willi  the  old.  —  that  an  interesting  and  u.-^eful 
book  might  be  preparetl  b\'  taking  Xuttall's  biographies 
and  inserting  brief  notes  relating  the  results  of  recent 
determinations  in  distrioution  and  habits.  That  is  what 
I  have  attempted  in  the  present  work.  The  Introduc- 
tion has  been  given  e.xactK'  as  it  appeared  in  .Xuttall's 
second  edition,  and  the  text  of  the  biographical  m.itter 
has  been  changetl  but  little.  I\I\'  notes  follow  each 
cha])tcr  in  a  smaller  t\'pe,  that  the}-  ma\-  be  readilx- 
distinguished.  I  have  also  rewritten  the  descriptions  of 
l)luniage,  and  ha\-e  endeavored  to  {)hrase  these  in  such 
well-known  and  untechnical  terms  that  they  may  be 
understood  by  unskilled  readers.  To  these  I  haw 
added  a  description  of  the  nest  and  eggs  of  each 
species.  In  short,  an  effort  has  been  made  to  prepare 
a  work  that  will  be  useful  to  young  students,  as  well 
as  entertaining  to  those  who  are  merel}'  interested  in 
birds. 

The  new  matter  has  been  selected  with  special  re- 
gard for  the   needs  of  these   classes  of  readers,   for  I 


I'KliJACK. 


liavc  liacl  another  motive  in  the  preparation  (jf  this 
work  besides  that  of  preservins^  Xuttall's  bioj^raphics. 
Some  time  a^o  I  made  a  j)romise  to  several  Canadian 
friends  to  prepare  a  book  treatincj  ot'  Canadian  birds 
that  would  be  scientifically  correct  and  at  the  >anie  time 
"  popular"  in  its  style.  So  while  writinL,^  these  pai^es 
I  have  kept  Canadian  readers  constantl\'  in  mind,  and 
liave  j^iveii  here  an  account  of  every  specie>  that  has 
been  found  within  the  Dominion  east  of  the  Manitoba 
plains,  tos4ether  with  their  Canadian  distribution. 

The  limits  of  a  "  hand-book  "  demandinL^  the  most 
rii^id  economy  of  space,  when  treating;  t-f  >o  extensive 
a  subject  1  have  been  compelled  to  omit  those  species 
which  occur  only  to  the  westward  of  the  Mississippi 
valley,  thoutjjh  I  have  endeavored  to  make  mention  of 
every  bird  that  has  occurred  within  this  Eastern  Faunal 
Province,  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  the  Arctic  Ocean, 
and  to  give  their  distribution  and  breeding  area  so  far 
as  these  are  known.  Nuttall  knew  very  little  about 
tlie  Western  birds,  and  therefore  onl\-  a  few  short 
chapters  of  his  have  been  lost  through  restricting  the 
scope  of  the  present  work  to  Eastern  forms. 

The  nomenclature  adopted  is  that  of  the  "  Check- 
List "  issued  by  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union. 
The  sequence  of  species  is  that  arranged  by  Nuttall, 
with  some  few  trifling  alterations;  and  being  radically 
different  from  that  of  recent  authors,  the  student  mu.st 
be  referred  to  other  works  for  guidance  in  classification 
as  well  as  for  diagnoses  of  the  higher  groups.  Coues' 
"  Key  to  North  American  Birds"  is  a  useful  work,  and 
contains  matter  not  obtainable    elsewhere,  though  the 


PREFACE. 


XI 


system  of  classification  ii«j\v  j^cncraliy  used  is  mure 
clearly  stated  in  Ri(];4\vay's  "  Manual  of  North  Amer- 
ican Birds."  Hut  the  most  complete  work  at  present 
obtainable,  and  one  which  every  student  should  have  at 
hand,  is  "The  History  of  North  Ami-rican  Birds."  by 
Baird,  Brewer,  and  Kidcjwa\-.  With  that  work  ami  the 
"A.  O.  U.  Check-List"  to  guide  him,  the  student  will 
be  equipped  for  thorough  study. 

It  onl)'  remain^  fur  me  to  thank  many  friends  wiio 
have  aided  me.  To  Mr.  William  Brew>ter  and  Mr. 
Charles  I*'.  Batchelder.  the  president  and  the  treasurer 
of  the  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club,  I  am  particularly 
indebted  for  kind  advice  and  assistance.  Xm  niu>t  I 
forget  to  mention  the  name  of  my  fellow-wt)rkcr,  ICrnest 
!•'..  Thompson,  of  Toronto.  A  l.irge  number  of  the 
illustrations  are  from  drawings  made  especially  for  this 
work  by  Mr.  Thompson. 

M.  C. 


II\KVAKn    r.MVKKSITV.    C"  AMDRI  I'GE.    MAsS. 


C  O  N  .  E  N  TS. 


Ui.ACKEfRn,  Red-winged 

Rusty 

Vellow-hcaded 

Bluebird 

Hobolink 

Bunting,  Indigo  .     . 

Painted     .     . 


Caracara,  Audubon's 

Cardinal 

Catbird 

Chat 

Chickadee       .... 

Carolina    . 

Hudsonian 
Chuck-vvill's-widow 
Cowbird  .... 

deeper,  Bahama  iloney 
iirown  .     .     .     . 
Crossbill,  American    .     . 

White-winged 

Crow  

Fish 

V  Cuckoo,  lilack-])illed  .     . 
.Mangrove 
Vellow-billcd 

DiCKCIS.SKL 

Eaglp:,  Bald  .  .  .  . 
Golden  .  .  . 
Grav  Sea    .     .     . 

Finch,  Purple    .     .     .    . 
Flicker       


Page 

96 
119 
102 

285 
109 

314 

0 
362 

173 
146 
150 

15' 

465 

104 
3S8 
387 


Flycatcher,  Acadian  . 
C  rested  . 
Least  .  . 
Olive-sided 
Traill's.  . 
V'ellow-bellied 

I 

.     GXAICATCHER    .      .       . 

Goidlinch 

j-  American  . 

Goshawk   .... 
Grackle,  Boat-tailed    . 
Purple 
j    Grosbeak,  Blue  .     . 

Kvening     . 
1  Pine 

Rose-breasted 
',    Gvrfalcon  .... 


37ii 

Hawk 

Broad- winged 

38' 

• 

Cooper's     .     . 

126 

Duck      .     .     . 

'31 

Harris'.      .     . 

436 

Marsh     .     .     . 

437 

Pigeon    .     .     . 

432 

Red-shouldered 
Red-tailed  .     . 

298 

Rough-legged 
.Sharp-shinned 

>9 

.Short-tailed 

15 

•Sparrow 

26 

Humming  liird  .     .     , 

37^- 

Jay, 

Bl 

ue            ... 

43S 

Canada  .... 

P.\(.K 

4'j 
421 

410 
424 
420 

170 

353 

34S 

31 
if4 
f'5 

3^'7 

375 

369 

7 

40 

34 

9 

46 

51 
II 

43 

4r, 
41 
35 


457 


^33 


xi\- 


CONTENTS. 


Jiiy,  Florida   .     .     . 
J  unco,  Slate-colored 


KiN(ii;iKij 

Ciray  .  . 
Kingtisher  .... 
Kinglet,  Golden-crowned 

Ruby-crowned 
Kite,  Lvciglade 
Mis.sissippi 
Swallow-tailed    . 
White-tailed  .     . 


L.M'L.A.Ni)  Longspur 
Lark,  Horned     .     . 
Meadow   .     . 


M.MMi.N.    I'urple     .     . 
Maryland  \'cllow-throat 
Mocking  Bird     .     .     . 


Nu.iii  H.WVK 

Nuthatch,  lir^wn-hcaded 

Red-lireastcd  . 

White-breasted 


C)Ri()i.K,  luTltimore 
( >rchard   . 

Osjirev  .     . 

Oven  liird      .     .     . 

Owl.  r.arn 

Harred  . 
Burrowing 
Great  Grav 
Great  Horned 
Hawk    . 
l.ong-eared 
Richardson's 
Saw-whet  . 
.Screech      .     . 
Short-tared    . 
Snowy  •     .     . 


Pakoqukt,  Carolina 
Pewee,  Wood     .     . 

Phcel)e 

Pipit      ..... 


P.\c.u 

'37 
339 

404 
414 
461 

283 

28 1 

40 

J/ 
39 
3« 

304 
294 

79 

391 

249 

US/ 


470 
3S6 

3^3 

^3 

93 

27 

215 

75 
70 
78 

f>4 
61 

53 

66 

«,  ^ 
/J 

7:^ 

57 
6S 

55 

42S 
■4'9 

415 
292 


Raven 

Redpoll 

Redstart 
Robin 


Hoary 


^Sapsucker    .     .     . 

Shrike,  Loggerhead 
Northern    . 

Siskin,  Pine  .     . 

Skylark      .... 

Snowliake      .     .     . 

Sparrow,  Acadian  Sharp 
IJachman's 
Chipping 
Field  .     . 
Fo.x 

Grasshopper 
Hcn.-luw's 
Htmsc 
Ipswich 
Lark  .     . 
Le  Conte'.s 
Lincoln's 
Nelson's 
Savanna 
Seaside  . 
Sharp-tailed 
Song  .     . 
Swamp    . 
Tree    .     . 
Vesper    . 
White-crowned 
White-throated 

Swallow.  Bank        .     . 

Barn  .  .  .  . 
Cliff  .  .  .  . 
RouG;h-winged  . 
Tree         .     .     . 

Swift,  Chimnev  .     .     .     . 


tai 


led 


Tanagkr.  Scarlet  .     . 

Summer     . 

Thrasher,  Brown  .  . 

Thrush,  Bickncll's  .  . 

Grav-cheeked 

Hermit 


Page 
120 

355 

35^ 
1O4 

198 

450 

162 

159 

297 
300 

345 
327 

OJ.J 

I) 


jj' 

33^ 

329 

3.1" 

354 

326 

3^7 

33' 

328 

34^' 

325 

346 

344 
-»•>-> 
J-- 

342 


3'5 

3'J^ 
401 

394 

39^' 
40; 

39<) 
46;, 

306 

309 
192 

2'  2 
211 

205 


CUNTENTS, 


Page 

.  120 

•  355 

•  35^ 
.  1O4 

.  198 

450 
ib2 
159 
3Si 


■  3^7 

■  333 

■  33(-^ 

■  33^ 

•  3-9 

■  33" 

•  354 

•  326 

•  317 

•  33^ 

•  32S 

•  34''i 

•  325 

•  346 

■  344 

•  3-2 

•  342 

•  332 

■  320 

•  3'5 

•  3^^ 

■  401 

•  394 

•  39^' 

■  40." 

■  390 
46,^ 

3of> 
309 
192 
2^2 

21  I 
205 


Thrush,  Louisiana  Water 
( >iivc- backed 
N\  ater  .     .     . 
\\  ilson's  .     . 
W  ood  .     .     . 

Titmouse,  Fufted  .     . 

Tuwlice 


Pac.ic 

-14 
211 

212 

207 

202  i 

142  j 

359  I 


\'iREu,  iJlueheaded    . 
Philadelphia  . 
Red-eved         .     , 
Warbiinu    ,     , 

White-eyed     .     , 
Yeliow-throated 
Vulture,  JJlack  .      .     .     . 
Turkey     .     .     . 


176 
1S6 
1S2 
I  So 
1 78 
174 
4 
I 


W 


.K.'UfK.  iJachman's     . 
liay-brca.^ted 
lilr.ck  and  white 
Blackhurnian     , 
lUack-pnll       .     , 
lilack-throatedBI 
Black-throated 

Green     .     . 
lilue-winged  . 

Canadian  .     . 

Cape  May      . 

Cerulean   .     . 

Chestnut-sided 

<-"onnccticut  . 

Golden-winged 

Hooded    .     . 

Kentuckv .     . 

Kirtland's      . 


.    26f 

•  ^37 
■  3S9 

•  232 

•  238 
ue  245 


226 

247 

235 

253 
260 

167 

246 

265 


Warbler,     Magnolia 
Mourning 
Myrtle  . 
Nashville 

Orange-crowned 
Parula  .     .     , 
Pine      .     . 
Prairie      .     , 
Prothonotary 
Swainson's    . 
Tennessee     . 
Wilson's   .     . 
W'^orm-eating 
Yellow      .  \ 
Yelluw  Palm 
Yellow-throated 
Waxwing,  Bohemian 

Cedar    .     . 
Wheatear       .... 
Whip-poor-will  .     . 
Woodpecker,    American   » 
toed 

Arctic  three-toed 
Downy  .     . 
Hairy    .     . 
Ivory-billed    . 
Pileated     .     . 
Red-bellied     . 
Red-cockaded 
Red-lieaded    . 
Wren,  Bewick's  .     . 

Carolina       .... 

House 

Long-billed  M.ush    . 
Short-billed  Marsh 
Winter   .... 


X\- 

PAr.K 
224 

251 
217 

264 
244 
239 


hree- 


257 
256 
261 
1 68 

255 

230 

210 
228 
152 

154 

290 

467 
456 

45  S 

452 

45' 
441 

444 
448 

454 
446 

276 

27  2 

266 

279 
277 
270 


I 


f 


i 


I 


ILLUSTRATIONS   IN   VOL.  I. 


COLORED    PLATES. 


Froiitispit'ce 


Platk  I.    .    .    . 

1.  Hawk  Owl. 

2.  sckkecji  owi.. 

3.  (;rkat  Horned  Owl. 

4.  P'lorida   IUjrrowinc,  Owl. 

5.  Bald  Eaglk. 

^'LVii:  n Page  go 

1.  JiALTiMORE  Oriole. 

2.  Meadowlark. 

3.  Red-Winged  Blackbird. 
^,.  BoiioLiNK. 

5.  American  Osi'rev. 

I''-^-"''-  in Page  146 

1.  CllICKADKE. 

2.  Catiurd. 

3.  Cedar  Wax w inc. 

4.  Red-Eyed  Vireo. 

5.  RoiilN. 

^''•^■''"-  I^^ Page  202 

f.  American  Redstart. 

2.  Blue  Jay. 

3.  Wood  Thrush. 
4-  Water  Thrush. 
5.  Duck  Hawk. 

Pla'ie  V.  D        _ 

Page  220 

1.  Cerulean  Warbler, 

2.  Prairie  Warhler. 

VOL.  I.  —  b 


Plate  W—contiuurJ. 

3.  Vellow  Waui;lek. 

4.  PARC  LA    WVRULEK. 

5.  Bi.ACKiiURN'Ax  Warhler. 

6.  Bi.ack-Tiiru    ied  Green 

Warhler. 

I'' -^"-  ^'^ Page  262 

1.  Maryland  Yellow  Thro.\t. 

2.  Blue  Bird. 

3.  Winter  Wren. 

4-  Xashville  Warhler. 

5.  Black-Throated  Blue 

Warhler. 

6.  Rchy-Crowned  Kinclet. 


Page  298 


Plate  VH 

1.  Snowflake. 

2.  White-Throated  .Si-arrow. 

3.  Black-Throated   Bunting. 

4-  Indigo  Bunting. 

5-  Scarlet  Tanager. 

Pi'ATE  VHI Page  ido 

I    Snow  Bird. 

2.  S(jxG  Sparrow 

3.  Phcehe. 

4-  American  Goldfinch. 

5-  Vesi'er  Sparrow. 

6.    ToWHEE. 


xvni 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Pi.ATK  IX J\li;e  382 

1.  Tim:  Grosukak  (Male). 

2.  Pink  Gkusi!i:.\k  (Female). 

3.  Puui'i.K  Finch  (Male). 

4.  I'i'kri.i';  Finch   (Female). 

5.  Rosk-Hkk.v.siki)  Grosukak. 

6.  Win  ii,-Wi.m;kd  CRossiiii.i. 

(Male). 

7.  WlIITK-WlNClKD   CROSSIIII.I. 

(Female). 


i'l.AlK    X /V''    4.^^ 

1.  Rri;v-Tiii;ttArKi)  Hum.minc 

HlKD, 

2.  Hakn  S\v allow  . 

3.  Fl.lCKKR. 

4.  Wiiir-i'ooR-wiLL. 

5.  Crk.siki)  Rkd  Bird. 

6.  Rk1>HKAIJKI)   WoOni'KCKKR. 


ILLUSTRATIONS    IN    THE   TEXT. 


No 

Page 

No 

I. 

TCKKKV    \'ILHKK        .      . 

1 

27. 
/ 

2. 

WiniK  Gyrkai.con   .     . 

7 

28. 

3- 

4MKRICAN  Si-arrow 

29. 

Hawk 

13 

30 

4 

GoLi)J',.N   Eac.le       .     .     . 

'5 

3'' 

.5- 

Bald  Iv\<;lk      .... 

•9 

J- 

6. 

American  Osi'rkv     .     . 

^7 

33- 

7- 

American  Goshawk     . 

3' 

34- 

8. 

Cuoi'Kr's  II.\wk    .     .     . 

34 

35- 

9- 

MlSSISSI-l'I    KlTK    .      .       . 

37 

36- 

ic. 

Amkrican  Rorc.  ii-Lk(^.c.ki) 

27- 

Hawk 

41 

38. 

II. 

RKD-Siiori.DKKKi)  Hawk 

43 

39- 

12. 

Broad-Winckd  Hawk  . 

49 

40. 

'5- 

Hawk  Owt 

53 

41. 

14. 

Snowy  Owi 

55 

•5- 

SCRI'.KCII   Owi 

57 

42. 

16. 

Great  Hornkd  owi.    . 

6i 

43 

17- 

LoN(;-Iv\REi)  Owl     .     . 

66 

18. 

Short-Earki)  Owl   .     . 

68 

44 

19. 

Barred  Owi 

70 

45 

20. 

Richardson's  Owl  .     . 

73 

46 

21. 

Barn  Owi 

75 

47 

22. 

Florida  EuRROwiN'c.  Owl 

7S 

-3* 

Meadowlakk    .... 

79 

48 

24. 

Bm,"^imore  Oriole   . 

S3 

49 

25- 

RED-W inc. ED   r> L ACKH I  rd 

96 

50 

26. 

Yellow-Headed  '.Jlack- 

51 

imrd 

102 

52 

Boiioi.lNK 109 

Blue  Jav 133 

Canada  Jay      .    ,     .     .     1 3S 

TCETED   Tn.MOUSE       .      .       I42 

Northern  Shrikk    .     .     159 

Redstart 164 

\\.' son's  Waruler  .    .     168 
Blue-Gray  GN.vrcATCHER  170 

VlLI.oW   r.KKASTED  CHA  L     I72 


178 
187 
192 
207 
215 


White-Eyed  Vireo  .  . 
Mockino  Bird  .... 
Brown  Thrasher  .  . 
\Vils(»n's  Thrush  .  . 
0\EN-]5lUD  .... 

Black-Throated  (hiEEN 

Waruler 230 

Parul.v  W.-.rt.ler     .     .  244 
Maryland  Vellow- 

Throat 249 

Worm.E.\it:.'g  WARrsi.r.R  255 
IlorsK  Wrenj    ....  266 
Carolina  Wren  .     ,     .  272 
Golden-Crowned  King- 
let      2S3 

Bi.uEHiRD 285 

Wm.AiK.VR 290 

A.iERicAN   Pipit    .     .     .  292 

Horned  Lark  ....  294 

Skylark 297 


Il.l.lSTkA'.''IO\s. 


ILL. 

)  Bird. 

WiiOni'ECKl  R. 


r. 


A;r 

•     • 

109 

•     • 

•       '  J.) 

•    • 

■      '^'S 

)USE 

.      142 

RIKK 

■      159 

.      164 

UfLER 

.      16S 

VICATCHKR  170 
TED  ChaL  172 
.  178 
.  187 
.  192 
.  207 
215 


IREO 
'  . 

lER 
USH 


ED   (}rEE\ 

LER       .      . 

LLOW- 


244 


....      249 
WaRRLI.R     21^5 

....   266 


KM    .      .      , 
•.'ED   KlNG- 


tT 


272 

285 
290 
292 

294 
297 


Xo. 

5.5.    Sxnwil.AKK    .      . 
54.    I.'.M.AND  LONGSI'ITK 
';.v    S'ARI.l.;-]    Ta.VAGER 

50.  Lark  Si'.vrkjw 

57.    VksI'KK    SI'vKKow  . 
5S.    S()\(,    .Sl'AKR(j\v 

>9-  Tkkk  Si'akrow 

"O.    Fox    Sl'ARK(j\V    , 

')!.  Siiarp-Tailkd  .Sparrow 
<>2.  .American  Goi.hfi.n 
•ij-  Gdldkincii    . 
(>4    ki.iu'di.i 

65.  1I(JARV    Rl  Dl'oi.i, 

66.  Cardinal 

67.  Kose-Brkastki)      Gr( 

Ili.AK         .... 
6.S.    I'l.NE    GR(J.S1;Kak 

'V    American  Crussjuij. 
70    Willi k-Kreasted  Nct 

ilA'ICH     .      .      . 


II 


300 
306 

3^7 


33= 

33^ 
344 
34« 
353 
355 
358 
362 

369 
375 
37S 


3Si 


83. 

84. 
85. 
86. 


7'-  I'-i  \iK  A\i>  White  Wa 

i;m;r 

7^-  liAK.N  .Swallow     . 

Trke  Swallow     . 

Hank  .Swallow    . 

KiNOIilRI) 

OLivi:.Si/,|.:nF,,v,vi(  11, 

•  Traill's  Flycatcher 

•  Carolina  Paroockt 
Vellow-Bii.lki)  CrcKo. 

rVORY-BlI.I.Kl,    WOOI). 
I'iX.KER  ...... 

PiLEATEI.    \Vooi)l.l.;cKER 

Yellow-Bellied  Sap- 
sucker  

Kci;V-THROATEI.    Hl'M- 

Mi.No  Bird     .... 
1!elted  Kincelsher 

GlilMNi;v    SWIET     . 
NiGilTiiAWK  .      . 


/J 

74 

75 
76. 

77- 
78. 

79- 

80. 

Si. 
82. 


-XIX 

As' 

K- 

•     3^') 

■     3''4 

3'"> 

401 

404 

R  410 

4-M 
4-^8 

'  43-^ 

44  f 
444 

450 

457 
461 

463 

470 


-i9 


m:^$m 


'■  'O- 


INTRODUCTIOxN. 


( )i  all  the  classes  of  animals  by  which  we  are  surroundetl  in 
the  ample  fiekl  of  Nature,  there  are  none  more  remarkable  in 
their  apnearance  and  habits  than  the  feathered  inhabitants  of 
the  air.  They  play  around  us  like  fairy  spirits,  elude  approach 
\w  an  element  which  defies  our  pursuit,  soar  out  of  sight  in  the 
yielding  sky,  journey  over  our  heads  in  marshalled  ranks,  dart 
like  meteors  in  the  smishine  of  summer,  or,  seeking  the  solitary 
recesses  of  the  forest  antl  the  waters,  they  glide  before  us  like 
beings  of  fancy.  They  diveisify  the  still  landscape  with  the 
most  lively  motion  and  beautiful  association  ;  they  come  and 
go  with  the  change  of  the  season  ;  and  as  their  actions  are  di- 
rected by  an  uncontrollable  instinct  of  provident  Xature,  they 
may  be  considered  ar  '-oncomitant  with  the  beauty  of  the  sur- 
rounding scene.  With  what  grateful  sensations  do  we  involun- 
tarily hail  the  arrival  of  these  faithful  messengers  of  spring  and 
summer,  after  the  lajjse  of  the  dreary  winter,  which  compelled 
them  to  forsake  us  for  more  favored  climes.  Their  songs,  now 
heard  from  the  leafy  groves  and  shadowy  forests,  inspire  de- 
light, or  recollecti(v-,.,  .  ;  the  pleasing  past,  in  every  breast. 
How  volatile,  how  p!.',, fully  capricious,  how  musical  anil  happv, 
are  these  roving  sylphs  of  Nature,  to  whom  the  air,  the  eartii, 
and  the  waters  are  alike  habitable  !  Their  lives  are  spent  in 
boundless  action  ;  and  Nature,  with  an  omni.scient  benevo- 
lence, has«assisted  and  formed  them  for  this  wonderful  disjjlay 
of  perpetual  life  and  vigor,  in  an  element  almost  their  own. 


XXII 


INTKUUlCTloN. 


If  v\x'  draw  a  coiniKiriMUii  between  the^c  inhabitants  (jf  the 
air  ,111(1  the  earth,  we  shall  perceive  that,  instead  of  the  large 
head,  formidable  jawi  armed  with  teeth,  the  (•ai)a(:i()us  che^l, 
wide  ■>h()ulders,  anil  nuiscular  leg:>  of  the  (iuadrii|)eds,  they 
have  bills,  or  pointed  jaws  destitute  of  t'^"'th  ;  a  lonj;  and  pliant 
neck,  jfently  swelling;  shoulders,  iai!  ,e  verlebrie  ;  the  fore- 

arm attenuated  to  a  point  and  (  lothed  with  feathers,  fonnuig 
the  expansive  wing,  and  thus  fined  for  a  different  sfjecies  ot 
motion  ;  likewise  the  wide  extended  tail,  to  assist  the  general 
provision  for  buoyancy  throughout  the  whole  anatomical  frame. 
For  the  same  general  purpose  i)f  lightness,  exists  the  ci;ntrast 
of  slender  bon\'  legs  and  feet.  So  that,  in  short,  we  percei\e 
in  the  whole  conformation  of  this  interesting  tribe,  a  structure 
wisely  and  curiously  adapted  for  their  destined  motion  through 
the  air.  Lightness  and  buoyancy  appear  in  every  part  of  the 
structure  of  birds  :  to  this  cm\  nothing  cijntributes  more  than 
the  soft  and  delicate  plumage  with  which  they  are  so  warmly 
clad;  and  though  the  wings  (or  great  organs  of  aerial  motion 
by  whi(  h  they  swim,  as  it  were,  in  the  atmosphere)  are  formed 
of  such  light  materials,  yet  the  force  with  which  they  strike  tin- 
air  is  so  great  as  to  impel  their  bodies  with  a  rapidity  unknown 
to  the  swiftest  (piadrupctl.  The  same  grand  intention  of  form- 
ing a  class  of  animals  to  move  in  the  ambient  desert  they 
occupy  above  the  earth,  is  likewise  visible  in  their  internal 
structure.  Their  bones  are  light  and  thin,  and  all  the  muscles 
diminutive  but  those  appropriated  for  moving  the  wings.  The 
lungs  are  placed  near  to  the  back-bone  and  ribs;  and  the  air 
is  not,  as  in  other  animals,  merely  confined  to  the  pulmonary 
organs,  but  passes  through,  and  is  then  conveyed  into  a  num- 
ber of  membranous  cells  on  either  side  the  external  region  of 
the  heart,  communicating  with  others  situated  beneath  the 
chest.  In  some  birds  these  cells  are  continued  down  the 
wings,  extending  even  to  the  pinions,  bones  of  the  thighs,  and 
other  i)arts  of  the  body,  which  can  be  distended  with  air  at 
the  ])leasure  or  necessity  of  the  animal.  This  diffusion  of  air 
is  not  only  intended  to  assist  in  lightening  and  elevating  the 
body,  but  also  aj^pears  necessary  to  prevent  the  stoppage  or 


IMK(.)lJLCTIO\. 


Will 


interruption  of  rosplnitiun,  which  would  otherwise  follow  the 
rapidity  of  their  motion  through  the  resisti'ng  .itmo«>phere  ,  and 
thus  the  Ostrich,  tluMigh  deprived  of  the  power  of  llight.  run^i 
almost  with  the  swittness  of  tlir  wind,  and  reiiuires,  as  he 
p(jssesseb,  the  usual  resources  of  air  conferred  on  other  l)lrds. 
Were  it  possible  for  man  to  move  with  the  rapidity  of  a  Swal- 
low, the  resistance  of  the  air,  wiilujut  M)me  su(  h  jjeciili.ir  pro- 
vision as  in  birds,  would  (luickly  bring  on  sullo(  jtion.  The 
superior  vital  heat  of  this  class  of  beings  i>  likewise  |)robal)ly 
due  to  this  greater  aeration  of  the  vital  tUiid. 

I)irds,  as  well  as  (luadrupeds,  may  be  generally  distinguished 
into  two  great  classes  from  the  food  on  which  they  are  destined 
to  subsist  ;  ami  may,  consequent!) .  be  termed  carnivorous  and 
granivorous.  Some  al^o  hold  a  middle  nature,  or  partake  of 
both.  'I'he  granivorou>  and  herbivorous  birds  are  provided 
uith  larger  ami  longer  intestines  than  those  of  the  carnivorous 
kinds.  'I'heir  food,  consisting  chiefly  of  grain  of  various  sorts, 
is  conveyed  whole  into  the  craw  or  first  stomach,  where  it  is 
Moftened  and  acted  u])on  by  a  ])eculiar  glandular  secretion 
thrown  out  upon  its  surface  ;  it  is  then  again  conxeyed  into  a 
second  preparatory  digestive  organ  :  and  finally  transmitted 
into  the  true  stomach,  or  gizzard,  formeil  of  two  strong  muscles 
connected  externally  with  a  tendinous  substance,  and  lined  in- 
ternally with  a  thick  membrane  of  great  power  and  'rength  ; 
and  in  this  place  the  unniasticatetl  food  is  at  length  c  tmpletely 
triturated,  and  ])repared  for  the  operation  of  the  gastric  juice. 
'I'he  extraordinary  powers  of  the  gizzard  in  comminuting  food, 
to  prejjare  it  for  digestion,  almost  exceeds  the  bounds  of  cred- 
il)ility.  Turkeys  and  common  fowls  have  been  made  to  swal- 
low sharp  angular  fragments  of  glass,  metallit  tubes,  and  balls 
armed  with  needles,  and  even  lancets,  which  were  found 
broken  and  compressed,  without  producing  any  apparent  pain 
or  wounds  in  the  stomach.  The  g'avel  pebbles  swallowed  by 
this  class  of  birds  with  so  much  r.vidity,  thus  appear  useful  in 
bruising  and  comminuting  the  grain  they  feed  on,  and  prei)ar- 
ing  it  for  the  solvent  action  of  the  digestive  organs. 

'I'hose  birds  which  live  chietiy  on  grain  and  vegetable  sub- 


XXIV 


IMKODUCTIUN. 


stances  iKirtakc  in  a  di'grcc  of  the  nature  and  <lis])osituin  <>{ 
hirbivorous  (iiiadnipL-ih.  In  l)oth,  the  food  and  the  provision 
Inr  its  dii^fstion  are  ver\  Nimilar.  AHke  distinjiui>hiil  for 
s   and   gentleness  of  manners,   their  hws  are 


sedentary 


habit> 


harndessly  and  usefully  passed  in  collecting  seeils  and  Iruits, 
and  ridding  the  earth  of  noxioti-  and  destructive  insect-  ;  they 
live  wholly  on  the  defensive  with  all  the  feathered  ra<"e.  and 
are  content  In  rear  and  defend  their  olfspring  from  the  atta(  ks 


o 


fth 


eir  enemies.     It  is  from  this  tra<  tahle  and  gentle  race,  a- 


Will  as  from  the  amphibious  or  a«|uatic  tribes,  that  man  iias 
long  -.ucceeded  in  itbtaining  useful  and  domestic  species, 
uliK  h,  from  their  prolificacy  and  hardihood,  afford  a  vast 
supply  of  wholesome  ami  nutritious  food.  Of  these,  the  Hen, 
originally  from  India:  the  (loo«<e.  !)uck.  and  Pigeon  of 
ICurope  ;  the  Turkey  of  America  ;  and  the  I'i.Jado,  or  (luinea- 
hen  of  Africa,  are  the  princ  ipal  :  to  whi(  h  may  also  be  ad- 
ded, as  less  useful,  or  more  recently  naturalized,  the  iVacock 
of  India,  the  I'lu'asant  of  the  same  country,  the  Chinese 
and  Canada  (loose,  the  Musiovy  l)uck,  and  the  European 
Swan. 

CarniNorous  birds  by  many  striking  traits  evince  the  destinv 
for  which  they  have  been  created  ;  they  are  provided  with 
wings  of  grer.t  length,  supj)orted  by  powerful  muscles,  which 
enable  them  to  tly  with  energy  and  soar  with  ease  at  the 
loftiest  elevations.  I'hey  are  armed  with  strong  hookeil  bills 
ami  with  the  sharp  and  formidable  claws  of  the  tiger:  they  ire 
also  further  distinguished  by  their  large  heads,  -.hurt  iu<k>. 
strong  muscular  thighs  in  aid  of  their  retractile  talons,  and 
.1  sight  so  piercing  as  to  enable  them,  while  soaring  at  the 
greatest  height,  to  perceive  their  l^rey,  upon  which  they  some- 
times descend,  like  an  arrt)w,  with  undeviating  ;tim.  In  these 
birds  the  stomach  is  smaller  than  in  the  granivorous  kinii>.  and 
their  intestines  are  shorter.  Like  beasts  of  prey,  they  arc  of  a 
fierce  and  unsociable  nature  :  and  so  far  from  herding  tt<ether 
like  the  inoffensive  tribes,  they  drive  even  their  offspring  iVom 
the  eyry,  and  seek  habitually  the  shelter  of  desert  rocks,  ne- 
glected ruins,  or  the  solitude  of  the  darkest  fore>t,  from  wlience 


IMKDDL'CTIUN. 


XXV 


posjtiun  i>f 

•  provision 
ihIkiI    for 

•  li\cs  .lie 
ind  t'niits, 
•tt^  :   they 

r.icc,  ami 
lu'  attacks 

k'    TMV.   .IS 

,  man  iias 
(•  spciics, 
rd  .1  vast 
the  Hell, 
I'iuc-on  of 
)r  (luiiKM- 
>.o  l>f  ail- 

;  Chinese 
European 

le  destiny 

(led    with 

s,  vvliirh 

>e   at   the 

ked  !)ills 

tliey  are 

rl    ii'-i  k-. 

iii>.   .'.nd 

at   the 

y  some- 

In  these 

n<i>,  and 

are  of  a 

.  aether 

111^:  from 

)(ks,  ne- 

whence 


thtv  utter  loud,  territi 


(  .  or   pur(  111.:,'  iTie>,    ill   act 


on  I 


in<e 


with 


the  gloomy  rage  and  intpiietude  of  their  insatiable  de>ire-. 

iJesides  these  grand  <livision>  of  the  winded  nation^,  tlu-re 
are  others,  whic  h,  in  their  habits  and  inaniier>,  might  he  « oin- 
|iared  to  the  ainphil)iou>  aiiimaU,  as  they  li\e  <  hietly  on  the 
water,  and  feed  on  its  productions,      jo  enable  them  to  iwiin 


,iii( 


I   d 


ive    in 


(|ue>t  of  their  a(|uatic  food,  their  toes  are  i  itn- 


iiected  by  broatl  nienibraiio  or  webs,  with  which,  like  i)ir-«, 
they  strike  the  water,  aiul  .ire  impelled  with  lorce.  in  tins  way 
t  ven  the  sea.s,  l.ikes,  and  river>.  abounding  with  fi>h.  in>ects, 
.iiid  seeds,  swarm  with  birds  (jf  \ari«tu>  kinds,  which  all  obtain 
all  abundant  supply.  'I'here  are  other  .uju.itic  binU,  t"re<iuent- 
iiig  niar>hes  and  the  margins  of  lakes,  rivers,  and  the  se.i, 
whuh  seem  to  partake  of  an  intermedi.ite  nature  between  the 
land  and  water  tribes.  S<jiiie  of  these  teed  on  fishes  .iiid  re|i- 
liles  ;  others,  with  long  and  sensible  bills  and  eAteiidi'(|  necks, 
seek  their  t'ood  m  wet  .md  muddy  marshes.  These  birds  are 
not  made  for  swimming  :  but,  famili.ir  with  water,  they  wade. 
ami  many  follow  the  vdi;c  of  the  retiring  wa\es  of  the  sea, 
^'leaning  their  inset  t  prey  at  the  recession  of  the  tides:  for 
this  kind  of  life  N;rture  has  provided  them  with  long  legs,  i)are 
oft^'athers  even  abtive  the  knees;  their  toes,  unconnected  bv 
webs,  are  only  partially  t"uniished  with  membranous  appen- 
dages, just  suftitieiit  to  su])pi>ri  them  on  the  sot't  and  boggy 
Ljrounds  they  frequent.  To  tiiis  tribe  belong  the  Cranes,  Snipes. 
Sandpi])ers,  Woodcocks,  and  many  others. 

In  comparing  the  senses  of  animals  in  (  onnectit)n  with  tluir 
iustint  t,  we  tuid  that  of  .v/;-/// to  be  niore  extended,  more  at  ute, 
and  more  distinct  in  birds,  in  general,  than  in  (iuadru])ed-.  I 
say  "in  general,"  for  there  are  some  birds,  such  as  the  Owls, 
whose  vision  is  less  clear  than  that  of  quadrupeds  :  but  this 
rather  results  from  the  extreme  sensibility  of  the  eye.  which, 
though  dazzled  with  the  glare  of  lull  day,  nicely  distinguishes 
even  small  objects  by  the  aid  of  twilight.  In  all  binls  the 
organ  of  sight  is  furnished  with  two  membranes,  —  an  external 
and  internal,  —  additional  to  those  which  occur  in  the  human 
subject.     The  tormer,  mtininami  iiictitan.^,  or  external  mem- 


XXVl 


INTRODUCTION'. 


branc.  is  situated  in  the  larger  angle  of  the  eye,  and  i^.,  in 
fact,  a  second  and  more  transi)arent  eyelid,  whose  motions  are 
directed  at  ])leasure,  and  its  use,  besides  occasionally  cleaning 
and  polishing  the  cornea,  is  to  temper  the  excess  of  light  and 
adjust  the  cpiantity  admitted  to  the  extreme  delicacy  of  the 
organ.  The  other  membrane,  situated  at  the  bottom  of  tlie 
eye,  a])])ears  to  be  an  expansion  of  the  optic  nerve,  which,  re- 
ceiving more  immediately  the  impressions  of  the  light,  must  be 
much  more  sensible  than  in  other  animals  :  and  consequently 
the  sight  is  in  birds  far  more  perfect,  and  embraces  a  wider 
range.  Facts  and  observations  bear  out  this  conclusion  ;  for  a 
S])arrow-hawk,  while  hovering  in  the  air,  perceives  a  Lark  or 
other  small  bird,  sitting  on  tlie  ground,  at  twenty  times  the  dis- 
tance that  such  an  object  would  be  visible  to  a  man  or  dog. 
A  Kite,  which  soars  beyond  the  reach  of  human  vision,  yet 
distinguishes  a  lizard,  field-mouse,  or  bird,  and  from  this  lofty 
station  selects  the  tiny  ol)jtjct  of  his  prey,  descending  upon  it 
in  nearly  a  perpendicular  line.  lint  it  may  also  be  added  that 
this  jirodigious  extent  of  vision  is  likewise  accompanied  with 
ecjual  accuracy  and  clearness ;  for  the  eye  can  dilate  or  con- 
tract, be  shaded  or  exposed,  dejiressed  or  made  protuberant, 
so  as  readily  to  assume  the  precise  form  suited  to  the  degree 
of  light  and  the  distance  of  the  object ;  the  organ  tlius  answer- 
ing, as  it  were,  the  purpose  of  a  self-adjusting  telescope,  with  a 
shade  for  examining  the  most  luminous  and  dazzling  objects  ; 
and  hence  the  Ivigle  is  often  seen  to  ascend  to  the  higher 
regions  of  the  atmosphere,  gazing  on  the  unclouded  sun  as  on 
an  ordinary  and  familiar  object. 

The  ra])id  motions  executed  by  birds  have  also  a  reference 
to  the  ]')erfe(tion  of  their  vision  ;  for  if  Nature,  while  she  en- 
dowed them  with  great  agility  and  vast  muscular  strength,  hail 
left  them  as  short-sighted  as  ourselves,  their  latent  powers 
would  have  availed  them  nothing,  and  the  dangers  of  a  per- 
l>etnaliy  impeded  progress  would  have  repressed  or  extin- 
guished their  ardor.  We  may  then,  hi  general,  consider  the 
celerity  with  which  an  animal  moves,  as  a  just  indication  of 
the  perfection  of  its  vision.     A  bird,  therefore,  shooting  .^wil'tl> 


IMRUDUCIION. 


XXVll 


lOL 


degree 


higher 


ference 

she  en- 

;th.  had 

powers 

)f  a  per- 

extin- 

ider  the 

ition  of 

;  hwh'tl) 


through  the  air,  must  undoubtedly  see  better  than  one  which 
slowly  describes  a  waving  tract.  'I'he  weak-sighted  bat.  ll>  ing 
caretully  through  bars  of  willow,  even  when  the  eyes  were  ex- 
tinguished, may  seem  to  suggest  an  exception  to  this  rule  of 
relative  velocity  and  vision  ;  but  in  this  case,  as  in  that  of  some 
blind  individuals  of  the  human  species,  the  extpiisite  auditory 
,ipi)aratus  seems  capable  of  sup])lying  the  defect  of  sight.  Nor 
are  the  tlickerings  of  the  bat,  constantly  perl'ormed  in  a  narrov/ 
(  inuit,  at  all  to  be  compared  to  the  distant  and  lofty  soarings 
of  the  i^agle,  or  tlie  wide  wanderings  of  the  smaller  birds,  who 
often  annually  jxiss  and  repass  from  the  arctic  circle  to  the 
equatoi. 

The  idea  (jf  motion,  and  all  the  other  ideas  connected  with 
it.  such  as  those  of  relative  velocities,  extent  of  country,  the 
l)roportional  height  of  eminences,  and  of  the  various  inetjuali- 
ties  thai  prevail  on  the  surface,  are  therefore  more  precise  in 
birtls,  and  occupy  a  larger  share  of  their  conceptions,  than  in 
the  grovelling  (piadrupeds.  Nature  would  seem  to  have  pointed 
out  thi<  superiority  of  vision,  by  the  more  conspicuous  and 
elaborate  structure  of  its  organ  ;  for  in  birds  the  eve  is  larger  in 
[)roportion  to  the  bulk  of  the  head  than  in  (]uadrupeds  ;  it  is 
also  more  delicate  and  finely  fashioned,  and  the  impressions  it 
receives  must  consequently  excite  more  vivid  ideas. 

Another  cause  of  difference  in  the  instincts  of  birds  and 
<|uadru]<eds  is  the  nature  of  the  element  in  which  they  live, 
birds  know  better  than  man  the  degrees  of  resistance  in  the 
air.  its  temperature  at  different  heights,  its  relative  density,  and 
many  other  jiarticulars.  probably,  of  which  we  can  form  no 
ade(iuate  conception.  They  foresee  more  than  we,  and  indi- 
cate better  than  our  weather-glasses,  the  changes  which  happen 
in  that  voluble  fluid  ;  for  otu-n  have  they  contended  with  the 
viol'  nee  of  the  wind,  and  still  oftener  have  they  borrowed  the 
advantage  of  its  aid.  The  Eagle,  soaring  above  the  clouds,  can 
at  will  escape  the  scene  of  the  storm,  and  in  the  lofty  region  of 
(  ihn.  far  within  the  aerial  boundary  of  eternal  frost,'  enjoy  a 

1  Tho  mean  licights  of  etein.il  frost  under  tlic  equator  anl  at  tlie  latitude  of 
30'' and  fio'are,  respectively.  15,207,  11,484,  and  3,818  feet. 


XXVlll 


'MKUUUCTION. 


serene  sky  and  a  bright  sun,  whi.  •  the  terrestrial  animals  re- 
main involved  in  darkness  and  exposed  to  all  the  fury  ot  the 
tempest.  In  twenty-four  hours  it  can  change  its  climate,  and 
sailing  over  different  countries,  it  will  form  a  picture  exceeding 
tlie  i)owers  of  the  pencil  or  the  imagination.  'I'he  quadruped 
knows  only  the  spot  where  it  feeds,  —  its  valley,  mountain,  or 
l)lain ;  it  has  no  conception  of  the  expanse  of  surface  or  of 
remote  distances,  and  generally  no  desire  to  push  forward  its 
excursions  beyond  the  bounds  of  its  immediate  wants.  Hence 
remote  journeys  and  extensive  migrations  are  as  rare  among 
quadrupeds  as  they  are  frecjuent  among  birds.  It  is  this 
desire,  foundetl  on  their  aci[uaintance  with  foreign  countries, 
on  the  consciousness  of  their  expeditious  course,  ami  on  their 
foresight  of  the  changes  that  will  happen  in  the  atmos[jhere, 
and  the  revolutions  of  seasons,  that  ]>rompts  them  to  retire 
together  at  the  powerful  suggestions  of  an  unerring  instinct. 
\Vhen  their  food  begins  to  fail,  or  the  cold  and  heat  to  incom- 
mode them,  their  innate  feelings  and  latent  powers  urge  them 
to  seek  the  necessarv  remedv  for  the  evils  that  threaten  their 
being.  The  inquietude  of  the  old  is  communicated  to  the 
young ;  and  collecting  in  troops  by  common  consent,  influ- 
enced by  the  same  general  wants,  impressed  with  the  approach- 
ing changes  in  the  circumstances  of  their  existence,  they  give 
way  to  the  strong  reveries  of  instinct,  and  wing  their  way  o\er 
land  and  sea  to  some  distant  and  better  country. 

Comparing  animals  with  each  other,  we  soon  perceive  that 
smell,  in  general,  is  much  more  acute  among  the  (luadrupeds 
than  the  birds.  I'.ven  the  i)retended  scent  of  the  \'ukure  is 
imaginary,  as  he  does  not  perceive  the  tainted  carrion,  on 
which  he  feeds,  through  a  wicker  basket,  though  its  odor  is  as 
potent  as  in  the  open  air.  This  choice  also  of  decaying  flesh 
is  probably  regulated  by  his  necessities  and  the  deficiency  of 
his  muscular  powers  to  attack  a  living,  or  even  tear  in  |)ieces  a 
recent,  jirey.  The  structure  of  the  olfactory  organ  in  l)irds  is 
obviously  inferior  to  that  of  quadnipeds ;  the  external  nostrils 
are  wanting,  and  those  odors  which  might  excite  sensation 
have  access  only  to  the  duct  leading  from  the  palate  ;  and  even 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXIX 


imais  re- 
ry  ot  tlH." 
iKitf.  and 
xcccding 
Liadrupcd 
mtain,  or 
icf  or  (){ 
)r\vanl  its 
Hence 
re  auion!^ 
[t   i^    this 
countries, 
I  on  their 
nosphere, 
to   retire 
\  instinct. 
to  Hicom- 
irgo  them 
aten  their 
,'d   to   the 
nt,   intlu- 
)|)roach- 
they  uive 
way  (j\er 

eive  that 

\drupeds 

ulture  is 

rrion.   on 

lor  is  as 

mg  flesh 

ient:y  of 

pieces  a 

hirds  is 

nostrils 

sensation 

and  even 


d 


m  those,  where  the  organ  is  disclosed,  the  ner\'es,  which  take 
their  origin  from  it,  are  tar  from  being  so  niniierous,  so  large, 
or  so  expanded  as  in  the  quadru[)eds.  We  may  therefore 
regard  f(U/ch  in  man,  s/neil  in  the  quadruped,  and  sight  in 
birds,  OS  respectively  the  three  most  perfect  senses  which 
exercise  a  general  intluence  on  the  character. 

After  sight,  the  most  perfect  of  the  senses  in  birds  appears 
to  be  hcariiii:;,  which  is  even  superior  to  that  of  the  quadru- 
peds, and  scarcely  exceeded  in  the  human  species.  We  i)er- 
(  eive  with  what  facility  they  retain  and  repeat  tones,  successions 
of  notes,  and  even  words  ;  we  delight  to  listen  to  their  im- 
wearied  songs,  to  the  incessant  warbling  of  their  tuneful  affec- 
tion. Their  ear  and  throat  are  more  ductile  and  powerful 
than  in  other  animals,  and  their  voice  more  capacious  and 
Lienerally  agreeable.  A  Crow,  which  is  scarcely  more  than  the 
thousandth  part  the  size  of  an  ox,  may  be  heard  as  far,  or 
farther;  the  Nightingale  can  fill  a  wider  space  with  its  music 
than  the  human  voice.  This  ])rodigious  extent  and  power  o{ 
Mjuml  depend  entirely  on  the  structure  of  their  organs^  but 
the  support  and  continuance  of  their  song  result  solely  from 
their  internal  emotions. 

The  windpipe  is  wider  and  stronger  m  birds  than  in  any 
other  class  of  animals,  and  usually  terminates  below  in  a  large 
cavity  that  augments  the  sound.  The  lungs  too  have  greater 
extent,  and  communic;.te  with  internal  cavities  which  are 
<  a|jable  of  being  expanvled  with  air,  and,  besides  lightening 
the  body,  give  additional  strength  to  the  voice.  Indeed,  the 
formation  of  the  thorax,  the  lungs,  and  all  the  organs  connected 
with  these,  seems  expressly  calculated  to  give  force  and  dura- 
tion to  their  utterance. 

Another  circumstance,  showing  the  great  power  of  voice  in 
birds,  is  the  distance  at  which  they  are  audible  in  the  higher 
regions  of  the  atmosphere.  An  Ivagle  may  rise  at  least  to  the 
height  of  seventeen  thousand  feet,  for  it  is  there  just  visible. 
I'locks  of  Storks  and  (}eese  may  mount  still  higher,  since,  noi 
withstanding  the  space  they  occupy,  they  soar  almost  out  of 
sight ;  their  cry  will  thereibrc  be   heard   from  an  altitude  of 


XXX 


L\TKODU':riO.\, 


more  than  three  miles,  and  is  at  least  four  times  as  [)owerful  as 
the  voice  of  men  and  (juadrupeds. 

Sweetness  of  voice  and  melody  of  song  are  qualities  whicli  in 
birds  are  partly  natural  and  partly  aciiuired.  The  kuility  with 
which  they  catch  ami  repeat  sounds,  enables  them  not  only  to 
borrow  from  each  other,  but  often  even  to  copy  the  more  difti- 
cult  inflections  and  tones  of  the  human  voice,  as  well  as  of 
musical  instruments.  It  is  remarkable  that  in  the  tropical 
regions,  where  the  birds  are  arrayed  in  the  most  glowing 
lolors.  their  voices  are  hoarse,  grating,  singular,  or  terrific. 
Our  sylvan  Orpheus  (the  Mocking-bird),  the  Brown  'i'hrush, 
the  Warbling  Flycatcher,  as  well  as  the  Linnet,  the  Thrush, 
the  lilackbird,  and  the  Nightingale  of  Kurope,  pre-eminent  fjr 
song,  are  all  of  the  plainest  colors  and  weakest  tints. 

The  natural  tones  of  birds,  setting  aside  those  derived  from 
education,  express  the  various  modifications  of  their  wants  and 
passions;  they  change  even  according  to  different  times  and 
circumstances.  The  females  are  much  more  silent  than  the 
males ;  they  have  cries  of  pain  or  fear,  murmurs  of  inquietude 
or  solicitude,  especially  fo:  their  young  ;  but  of  song  they  are 
generally  deprived.  The  song  of  the  male  is  inspired  by  ten- 
der emotion,  he  chants  his  affectionate  lay  with  a  sonorous 
voice,  and  the  female  replies  in  feeble  accents.  The  Nightin- 
gale, when  he  first  arrives  in  the  spring,  without  his  mate,  is 
silent ;  he  begins  his  lay  in  low,  faltering,  and  unfreiiuent  airs  ; 
and  it  is  not  until  his  consort  sits  on  her  eggs  that  his  en- 
<-hanting  melody  is  complete  :  he  then  tries  to  reliexe  and 
amuse  her  tedious  hours  of  incubation,  and  warbles  more 
pathetically  and  variably  his  amorous  and  soothing  lay.  In  a 
state  of  nature  this  propensity  for  song  only  continues  through 
the  breeding  season,  for  after  that  period  it  either  entirely 
ceases,  becomes  enfeebled,  or  loses  its  sweetness. 

Conjugal  fidelity  and  parental  affection  are  among  the  m-  st 
conspicuous  traits  of  the  feathered  tribes.  The  pair  unite  their 
labors  in  preparing  for  the  iccommodation  of  their  exi)ected 
progeny  ;  and  during  the  time  of  incubation  their  parti(  i])a- 
tion   of  the   same  cares  and  solicitudes  continually   augments 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXXl 


■I 


thfir  mutual  attachment.  Uhen  the  young  appear,  a  new 
source  of  care  and  i)leasure  opens  to  them,  still  stiengthei.in.L; 
the  ties  of  affection;  and  the  tender  charge  of  rearing  and 
defending  their  infant  brood  recjuires  the  joint  attention  of 
both  parents.  The  warmth  of  first  affection  is  thus  succeeded 
by  calm  and  steady  attachment,  which  by  degrees  extends, 
without  suffering  any  diminution,  to  the  rising  branches  of  die 
family. 

This  conjugal  union,  in  the  rapacious  tribe  of  birds,  the 
Kagles  and  Hawks,  as  well  as  with  the  Ravens  and  Crows,  con- 
tinues commonly  through  life.  Among  many  other  kinds  it  is 
also  of  long  endurance,  as  we  may  perceive  in  our  common 
Pewee  and  the  lllue-bird,  who  year  after  year  continue  to  fre- 
quent and  build  in  the  same  cave,  box,  or  hole  in  the  decayed 
orchard  tree.  But,  in  general,  this  association  of  the  sexes 
expires  with  the  season,  after  it  has  completed  the  intentions 
of  rejiroduction,  in  the  i)reser\'ation  and  rearing  of  the  off- 
si)ring.  'I'he  ajipearance  even  of  sexual  distinction  often  van- 
ishes in  the  autumn,  when  both  the  parents  and  their  young 
are  then  seen  in  the  same  huml)le  and  oblivious  dress,  ^^'he^ 
the\  arrive  again  amongst  us  in  the  spring,  the  males  in  flocks, 
often  by  themselves,  are  clad  anew  in  their  nuptial  livery  ;  .uid 
with  vigorous  songs,  after  the  cheerless  silence  in  which  they 
have  passed  the  winter,  they  now  seek  out  their  mates,  and 
warmly  contest  the  right  to  their  exclusive  favor. 

With  regard  to  food,  birds  V  ive  a  more  ample  latitude  than 
([uadrupeds;  flesh,  fish,  amphibia,  reptiles,  insects,  fruits,  grain, 
seeds,  roots,  herbs,  —  in  a  word,  whatever  lives  or  vegetates. 
Nor  are  they  very  select  in  their  choice,  Init  often  catch  indif- 
ferently at  what  they  can  most  easily  obtain.  Their  sense  cf 
taste  appears  indeed  much  less  acute  than  in  quadrupeds  :  for 
if  we  except  such  as  are  carnivorous,  their  tongue  and  palate 
are,  in  general,  hard,  and  almost  cartilaginous.  Sight  and  scent 
can  only  direct  them,  though  they  possess  the  latter  in  an  infe- 
rior degree.  The  greater  number  swallow  without  tasting  ;  and 
mastication,  which  constitutes  the  chief  pleasure  in  eating,  is 
entirely  wanting  to  them.     As  their  horny  jaws  are  unprovided 


XXXll 


INTROnUCTION. 


with  teeth,  the  food  undergoes  no  i)reparation  in  the  mouth, 
hut  is  swallowed  in  unbruised  and  untasted  morsels.  Yet  there 
is  reason  to  believe  that  the  first  action  of  the  stomach,  or  its 
])reparatory  vcntriculiis,  affords  in  some  degree  the  ruminating 
g'-itification  of  taste,  as  after  swallowing  food,  in  some  insectiv- 
orous and  carnivorous  birds,  the  motion  of  the  mandibles,  ex- 
actly like  that  of  ordinary  tasting,  can  hardly  be  conceived  to 
exist  without  conveying  some  degree  of  gratifying  sensation. 

The  clothing  of  birds  varies  with  the  habits  and  climates 
they  inhabit.  'l"he  acjuatic  tribes,  and  those  which  live  in 
northern  regions,  are  provided  with  an  abundance  of  plumage 
and  fine  down,  —  from  which  circumstance  often  we  may  form  a 
correct  judgment  of  their  natal  regions.  In  all  climates,  atjua- 
tic  birds  are  almost  equally  feathered,  and  are  provided  with 
])osterior  glands  containing  an  oily  substance  for  anointing 
their  feathers,  which,  aided  by  their  thickness,  prevents  the 
admission  of  moisture  to  their  bodies.  These  glands  are  less 
<onspicuous  in  land  birds,  —  ^mless,  like  the  fishing  Kagles,  their 
habits  be  to  plunge  in  the  water  in  i)ursuit  of  their  prey. 

The  general  structure  of  feathers  seems  purposely  adapted 
both  for  warmth  of  clothing  and  security  of  flight.  In  the 
wings  of  all  birds  which  fly,  the  webs  comjiosing  the  vanes,  or 
])lumy  sides  of  the  feather,  mutually  interlock  by  means  of  reg- 
ular rows  of  slender,  hair-like  teeth,  so  that  the  feather,  except 
at  and  towards  its  base,  serves  as  a  complete  and  close  screen 
from  the  weather  on  the  one  hand,  and  as  an  impermeable  oar 
on  the  other,  when  situated  in  the  wing,  and  required  to  catch 
and  retain  the  impulse  of  the  air.  In  the  birds  which  do  not 
fly,  and  inhabit  warm  climates,  the  feathers  are  few  and  thin, 
and  their  lateral  webs  are  usually  separate,  as  in  the  Ostrich, 
Cassowary,  Emu,  and  extinct  Dotlo.  In  some  cases  feathers 
seem  to  pass  into  the  hairs,  which  ordinarily  clothe  the  quadru- 
peds, as  in  the  Cassowary,  and  others  :  and  the  base  of  the 
bill  in  many  birds  is  usually  surrounded  with  these  capillary 
plumes. 

The  greater  number  of  birds  cast  their  feathers  annually,  and 
appear  to  suffer  much  more  from  it  than  the  quadrupeds  do 


^  t 


IMK(Jl)LCl'IO\. 


XXXill 


the  mouth, 
Yet  there 
nach,  or  its 
ruminating 
no  insectiv- 
ncUbles,  ex- 
onceived  to 
.'nsation. 
1(1  cHmates 
lich  Hve  in 
of  phmiage 
ma}'  form  :i 
lates,  a(iua- 
3vided  with 
r  anointing 
revents  the 
nds  are  less 
Ragles,  their 
)rey. 

ly  a(la])ted 

It.     In  the 

e  vanes,  or 

ins  of  reg- 

|her.  except 

lose  screen 

meable  oar 

d  to  catch 

ich  do  not 

and  thin. 

le  Ostrich, 

s  feathers 

e  quadru- 

ase  of  the 

|e  capillary 

uially,  and 
Irupeds  do 


from  .i  similar  change.  The  best-fed  fowl  ceases  at  this  time 
lu  lav.  ''he  season  of  moulting  is  generally  the  end  of  summer 
(ir  autumn,  and  their  feathers  are  n(Jt  completely  restored  till 
the  spring.  Tlie  male  sometimes  undergoes,  as  we  have  already 
remarked,  an  additional  moult  towards  the  close  of  suunner  ; 
md  among  many  of  the  waders  and  web-footed  tribes,  as  Sand- 
])ipcr>.  Plovers,  and  (lulls,  both  sexes  experience  a  moult  twite 
ni  the  year,  so  that  their  summer  and  winter  livery  appears 
wholly  different. 

The  stratagems  and  contrivances  instinctively  emjiloyed  l)y 
birds  for  their  support  and  jn'otection  are  peculiarly  rem;irk- 
able  ;  in  this  way  those  which  are  weak  are  enabled  to  elude 
the  })ursuit  of  the  strong  and  rapacious.  Some  are  e\en 
screened  from  the  attacks  of  their  enemies  by  an  arrangement 
of  colors  assimilated  to  the  places  which  they  most  frequent 
for  subsistence  and  repose  :  thus  the  Wryneck  is  scarcely  to  be 
distinguished  from  the  tree  on  which  it  seeks  its  food  ;  or  the 
Snipe  froni  the  soft  and  springy  gr(jund  which  it  fretpients. 
'I"he  (Jreat  Plover  finds  its  chief  security  in  stony  places,  to 
whi<  h  its  colors  are  so  nicely  adapted  that  the  most  exact 
observer  may  be  deceived.  The  same  lesort  is  taken  advantage 
of  by  the  Night  Hawk,  Partridge,  Plover,  and  the  Ame.ican 
(^)uail,  the  young  brood  of  which  s([uat  on  the  ground,  instinc- 
ti\Lly  conscious  of  being  nearly  invisible,  from  their  close 
resemblance  to  the  broken  ground  on  which  thev  lie,  and  trust 
to  this  natural  concealment.  The  same  kind  of  tlecej)tive  and 
protecting  artifice  is  often  emjiloyed  by  birds  to  conceal  or 
.ender  the  appearance  of  their  nests  ambiguous.  Thus  the 
Kuroperin  Wren  forms  its  nest  externally  of  hay,  if  against 
a  hayrick  ;  covered  with  lichens,  if  the  tree  chosen  is  so 
clad  ;  or  aiade  of  green  moss,  when  the  decayed  trunk  in  which 
it  is  built,  is  thus  coveretl  ;  and  then,  wholly  closing  it  alxjve, 
leaves  only  a  concealed  entry  in  the  sitle.  Our  Munnning- 
bird,  by  external  ])atches  of  lichen,  gives  her  nest  the  appi-ar- 
an(  e  of  a  moss-grown  knot.  A  similar  artifice  is  employefl  by 
our  Yellow-breasted  I'dycatcher,  or  Vireo,  and  others.  The 
vol..  1.  —  c 


M 


XXXIV 


INTRODUCTION'. 


(loldi-n-cnjwiK'd  Thrush  {Srinnis  (iiii<uapi//us)  mak«^s  a  iit-^t 
like  an  oven,  erecting  an  arch  over  it  so  |)ert"ec;tl)'  resem- 
bUng  the  tussuck  in  which  it  is  concealeil  tluit  it  is  only  dis- 
ccnerable  by  the  emotion  of  the  female  when  startled  from  its 
covert. 

The  Ikitcher-bin.l  is  said  lt>  draw  aroun<l  iiim  his  feathered 
victims  by  treacherously  imitating  their  notes.  The  Kingfisher 
of  luirope  is  believed  to  allure  his  i)rey  by  displaying  the 
brilliancy  of  his  colors  as  he  sits  near  some  setiuestered  place 
on  the  margin  of  a  rivulet ;  the  fish,  attracted  by  the  splen- 
dor of  his  lluttering  and  expanded  wings,  are  (detained  while 
the  wily  fisher  takes  an  unerring  aim.^  'i'he  Erne,  and  our 
iJald  I'lagle,  gain  a  great  part  of  their  subsistence  by  watching 
the  success  of  the  Fish  Hawk,  and  robbing  him  of  his  finny  prey 
as  soon  as  it  is  caught.  In  the  same  way  also  the  rapacious 
l)Urgomaster,  or  (llaucous  (hill  {Larus  o^/aiicits),  of  the  N(.>rth 
levies  his  tribute  'of  food  from  all  the  smaller  species  of  his 
race,  who,  knowing  his  strength  and  ferocity,  are  seldom  inclined 
to  dispute  his  jMratical  claims.  Several  species  of  Cuckoo,  and 
the  Cow  Troopial  of  America,  habitually  deposit  their  eggs  in 
the  nests  of  other  small  birds,  to  whose  deceived  affection  are 
committed  the  preservation  and  rearing  of  the  i)arasitic  and 
vagrant  brood.  The  instinctive  arts  of  birds  are  numerous  ; 
but  treachery,  like  that  which  obtains  in  these  ])arasitic  species, 
is  among  the  rarest  expedients  of  nature  in  the  feathered 
tribes,  though  not  uncommon  among  some  insect  families. 

'I'he  art  displayed  by  birds  in  the  construction  of  their  tem- 
porary habitations,  or  nests,  is  also  deser\-ing  of  passing 
attention.  Among  the  Gallinaceous  tribe,  including  our  land 
domestic  s])ecies,  as  well  as  the  acpiatic  and  wading  kinds, 
scarcely  any  attempt  at  a  nest  is  made.  The  birds  which  swarm 
along  the  sea-coast  often  deposit  their  eggs  on  the  bare  ground, 
sand,  or  slight  depressions  in  shelving  rocks  ;  governed  alone 
by  grosser  wants,  their  mutual  attachment  is  feeble  or  nugatory, 
and  neither  art  nor  instinct  prompts  attention  to  the  const  ruc- 

1  The  bria;lit  feathers  of  this  bird  enter  often  successfully,  with  otliers,  into 
the  composition  of  the  most  attractive  artificial  flies  employed  by  anglers. 


INTK(>[)lCri(>N. 


\XN\' 


laki;^  a  not 

uctly   rescni- 

is  only  <lis- 

;lcd  troni   its 

his  tealhcrrd 
ic  Kini^fisliLT 
sjjlaying    the 
estercd  place 
)y  the   s])lcn- 
etained  while 
,rne,  and   our 
i  by  watching 
his  finny  prey 
the  rapacious 
of  the  North 
species  of  his 
;klom  inclined 
f  Cuckoo,  and 
their  eggs  in 
affection  are 
jiarasitic  and 
Ire  nunierous  ; 
nsitic  s]iecies, 
he    feathered 
families. 
of  their  tem- 
g   of   passing 
ling  our  land 
fading    kinds, 
wliich  swarm 
bare  ground, 
verned  alone 
or  nugatory, 
Ithe  const ruc- 

|,vith   others,  into 
una;lers. 


tion  of  a  nest,  —  the  less  necessary,  indeed,  as  the  young  run  or 
take  to  the  water  as  soon  as  hatched,  and  early  release  them- 
selves from  parental  tlependence.  The  habits  of  the  other  acpia- 
ti(  birds  are  not  very  dissimilar  to  these  ;  yet  it  is  singular  to 
remark  that  while  our  common  (leese  and  Ducks,  like  domestic 
jowls,  have  no  permanent  selective  attachment  for  their  mates, 
die  Canadian  Wild  (loose,  the  Kider  I )U(  k,  and  some  others, 
are  constantly  and  faithfully  paired  through  the  season;  so 
that  this  neglect  of  accommodaticjn  for  the  ycjung  in  the  fabri- 
(  ation  of  an  artificial  nest,  common  to  these  with  the  rest  of 
their  tribe,  has  less  connection  with  the  recjuisition  of  mutual 
aid  than  with  the  hardy  and  precocious  habits  of  these  unmusi- 
(  al,  coarse,  and  retiring  birds.  It  is  true  that  some  of  them 
show  considerable  address,  if  little  of  art.  in  providing  security 
for  their  young  ;  in  this  way  some  of  the  Razor-bills  (including 
the  Common  i\ififin)  do  not  trust  the  exposure  of  their  egg>. 
like  the  (iulls,  who  rather  rely  on  the  solitude  of  their  retreat, 
than  art  in  its  defence  ;  but  with  considerable  labor  some  of 
the  Akas  form  a  deep  burrow  for  the  se(  urity  of  their  brood. 

Iiirds  of  the  same  genus  differ  much  in  their  modes  of  nidi- 
ficaiion.  Thus  the  ^Fartin  makes  a  nest  within  a  rough-cast 
rampart  of  mud.  and  enters  b\'  a  flat  o])ening  in  the  upper 
edge.  'I'he  Cliff  Swallow  of  Jjonaparte  conceals  its  warm  and 
feathered  nest  in  a  receptacle  of  agglutinated  mud  resembling 
a  narrow-necked  purse  or  retort.  Another  species,  in  the 
Indian  seas,  forms  a  small  receptacle  for  its  young  entirely 
of  interlaced  gelatinous  fibres,  provided  by  the  mouth  and 
stomach  ;  these  nests,  stuck  in  clusters  against  the  rocks,  are 
collected  l)y  the  Chinese,  and  boiled  and  eaten  in  soups  as 
the  rarest  delicacy.  The  I'ank  Martin,  like  the  Kingfisher, 
burrows  deep  into  the  friable  banks  of  rivers  to  secure  a  de- 
pository for  its  scantily  feathered  nest.  The  Chimney  Swallow, 
originally  an  inhabitant  of  hollow  trees,  builds  in  empty  chim- 
neys a  bare  nest  of  agglutinated  twigs.  The  Woodpecker, 
Nuthatch,  Titmouse,  and  our  rural  lUuebird,  secure  their 
young  in  hollow  trees  :  and  the  first  often  gouge  and  dig 
through  the  solid  wood  with  the  success  and  industry  of  car- 


I       ll 


XXXVl 


INTRODUCTION. 


pL'iitcTs,  and  without  the  litl  of  any  other  chisel  than  their 
wcdj^jcd   bills. 

Mut  the  most  consumniate  ingenuity  of  ornithal  architecture 
is  displayed  by  the  smaller  and  more  social  tribes  of  birdi,  who, 
in  proportion  to  their  natural  enemies,  foreseen  by  Nature,  are 
pn)\i(U(l  with  the  means  of  instinctive  defence.  In  this  labor 
both  sexes  generally  unite,  and  are  sometimes  occupied  a  week 
or  more  in  completing  this  tempc^rary  habitation  for  their 
young.  We  can  only  glance  at  a  few  examples,  chietly  domeri- 
tic  ;  since  to  give  anything  like  a  general  \iew  of  this  subject 
of  the  architecture  employed  by  birds  would  far  exceed  the 
narrt)w  limits  we  prescribe.  And  here  we  may  remark  that, 
after  migration,  there  is  no  more  certain  disi)lay  of  the  reveries 
of  instinct  than  what  presitles  over  this  interesting  and  neces- 
sary labor  of  the  species.  And  yet  so  nice  are  the  gradations 
betwixt  this  innate  j)ropensity  and  the  dawnings  of  reason  that 
It  is  not  always  easy  to  decide  u])on  the  characteristics  of 
one  as  distinct  from  the  other.  Pure  and  undeviating  in- 
stincts are  perhaps  wholly  confined  to  the  invertebral  class  of 
animals. 

In  respect  to  the  habits  of  l)irds,  we  \\v]\  know  that,  like 
([uadrupeds,  they  possess,  though  in  a  lower  degree,  the  capa- 
cit\-  for  a  certain  measure  of  what  mav  be  termed  education, 
or  the  power  of  adding  to  their  stock  of  invariable  habits  the 
additional  traits  of  an  inferior  degree  of  reason.  Tiius  in  those 
birds  who  h;i\e  (bscovered  (like  the  faithful  clog,  tiiat  humble 
companion  of  man)  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  asso- 
ciating round  his  jiremises,  the  regularity  of  their  instinctive 
habits  gives  way,  in  a  measure,  to  improvable  conceptions.  In 
this  manner  t>ur  (loh't'u  Robin  {Icterus  balfiinoir^,  k^x  I'iery 
llang  IJird.  originally  oiily  a  nati\-e  of  the  wilderness  and  the 
forest,  is  now  a  constant  summer  resident  in  the  vicinitv  of 
villages  and  dwellings.  From  the  dei)ending  boughs  of  our 
towering  elms,  and  other  spreacbng  trees,  like  the  Oriole  of 
I'Au-ope,  and  the  Cassican  of  tropical  America,  he  weaves  his 
pendulous  and  purse-like  nest  of  the  most  tenacious  and  diu'- 
able  materials  he  can  collect.     These  naturally  consist  of  the 


INlKODLCrioN. 


WWII 


1   th;in   their 

architi'cluio 
)f  binli,  who, 
■  Nature,  arc- 
In  this  lal)i>r 
ipicd  a  wiik 
)ii  for  tlu'ir 
lictly  doint'n- 
r  tiiis  subject 
r  exceed  the 
remark  tliat, 
f  tiie  reveries 
g  and  neces- 
le  gradations 
f  reason  that 
icteristics  of 
;leviating  in- 
,'bral  class  of 

3w  that,  hke 
e,  the  capa- 
l  education, 
e  habits  tlie 
'hus  in  those 
tliat  humble 

from  asso- 

r  instinctive 

e])tions.      In 

),  or  Fiery 
ness  and  the 
L'  \-icinity  of 
)Uglis  of  our 
le  Oriole  of 
e  weaves  his 
Dus  and  dur- 
onsist  of  the 


Indian  hemp,  flax  of  the  silk-weed  (.lsi-A-/>/<is  species),  and 
otiier  tougii  and  fibrous  substances  ;  but  with  a  ready  ingenuity 
he  discovers  that  real  tlax  and  heinj'.  as  well  as  thread,  cottiMi, 
varn,  and  even  hanks  of  silk,  or  small  strings,  aiul  hursr  and 
( ()w  hair,  are  excellent  substitutes  f  r  his  original  domcMtit  ma- 
terials ;  and  in  *)rder  to  be  convenient  to  these  ai  cidmtal 
resources,  —  a  matter  of  some  importance  in  so  tedious  a  labor. 
—  he  has  left  the  wild  woods  of  his  ancestry,  and  conscious  of 
the  security  of  his  lofty  and  nearly  inaccessibU'  mansion,  has 
taken  up  his  wekome  abode  in  the  precincts  of  tjur  h.ibitations. 
'The  same  motives  of  convenience  and  c-oinfort  have  hatl  their 
ajjparent  inlluence  on  many  more  oi'  our  almost  domestic 
feathered  tribes;  the  liluebirds.  \\rens,  and  Swallows,  original 
inhabitants  of  the  W(;ods,  are  now  no  K'ss  familiar  than  our 
Pigeons.  The  Catbird  often  leaves  his  native  solitary  thickets 
for  the  convenience  and  refuge  of  the  garden,  and  watch- 
ing, occasionally,  the  motions  of  the  tenant,  answers  to  his 
whistle  with  complacent  mimicry,  or  in  petulant  anger  scolds  at 
his  intrusion.  The  Common  R()l)in,  who  never  varies  his  simple 
and  coarse  architecture,  tormented  by  the  parasitic  Cuckoo 
or  the  noisy  Jay.  who  seek  at  times  to  rob  him  of  his  progeny, 
for  ])rotec:tion  has  been  known  fearlessly  to  build  his  nest 
within  u  few  yards  ot  the  blac;ksmith's  anvil,  or  on  the  stern 
timbers  of  an  unfinished  vessel,  where  the  carpenters  were  still 
employed  in  their  noisy  labors.  That  sagacity  obtains  its  intlu- 
ence  over  unvarying  instinct  in  these  and  many  other  familiar 
birds,  may  readily  be  conceived  when  we  observe  that  this 
\enturous  association  with  man  \anishes  with  the  occasion 
which  required  it  ;  for  no  sooner  have  the  Oriole  and  Robin 
reared  their  young  than  their  natural  suspicion  and  shvness 
again  return. 

Deserts  and  solitudes  are  avoided  by  most  kinds  of  birds. 
In  an  extensive  country  of  unvarying  surface,  or  possessing  but 
little  variety  of  natural  productions,  and  i)arti(ailarly  where 
streams  and  waters  are  scarce,  few  of  the  feathered  tribes  are 
to  be  found.  The  extensive  prairies  of  the  West,  and  the 
gloomy  and  almost  interminable  forests  of  the  North.  a<  well  as 


.^ 


.WW  111 


IM  KUDLX  llO.N. 


till'  iiinhnim'oiis,  wiM,  .iinl  uiipcdpkil  I);l^k^  of  the  Mississippi, 
iind  otluT  of  tiu'  br^'tT  risiTs,  no  less  than  the  vast  piiH'-l»ar- 
reiis  of  tlie  Southern  St  ales,  are  nearly  without  birds  as  |)enna- 
nent  residents.  In  (  ros>in.Lj  the  desolate  piny  j^lades  of  the 
Siiuth,  with  tlic  exception  of  Creepers,  Nuthatches,  Wood- 
|»e(keis,  Tine  Warhh-rs,  and  llocks  of  Hitting  l.arks  {Sfiniui/ti), 
scarcely  any  birds  arc  to  be  seen  till  we  a|)proach  the  mean- 
ders of  some  stream,  or  the  precincts  of  a  plantation.  The 
food  of  birds  being  extremely  various,  they  conse(|uently  con- 
gregate only  where  sustenance  is  to  be  obtained  ;  wati-ry  situa- 
tions and  a  diversified  vegetation  are  necessary  for  their  su|)port, 
and  convenient  for  their  residence;  the  fruits  of  the  garden 
and  orchard,  the  swarms  of  inse(  ts  which  follow  the  progress  of 
agriculture,  the  grain  whi<  h  ue  cultivate.  — in  short,  everything 
wjiich  contributes  to  our  luxuries  and  wants,  in  the  way  of 
subsistence,  no  less  than  the  recondite  and  tiny  enemies  which 
lessen  or  attack  these  various  resources,  all  conduce  to  the 
support  of  the  feathered  race,  which  consequently  seek  out  and 
frcipient  our  settlements  as  humble  and  useful  dependents. 

'i'he  most  ingenious  and  labored  nest  of  all  the  North  .Amer- 
ican birds  is  that  of  the  Orchard  Oriole,  or  Troo]iial.  It  is 
suspended,  or  pensile,  like  that  of  the  IJaltimore  IJird,  but,  with 
the  exception  of  hair,  constantly  constructed  of  native  mate- 
rials, the  principal  of  which  is  a  kind  of  tough  grass.  The 
blades  are  formed  into  a  sort  of  platted  purse  but  little  inferior 
to  a  coarse  ?traw  bonnet  ;  the  artificial  labor  bestowed  is  so 
apparent  tha:  Wilson  humorously  ailds.  on  his  showing  it  to  a 
matron  of  his  actpiaintance.  betwixt  joke  and  earnest,  she 
asked  *'  if  he  thought  it  could  not  be  tauizht  io  darn  stock- 
ings."  FA-ery  one  has  heard  of  the  Tailor  Uird  of  India  {Sv/r/ti 
sit  Zona)  ;  this  little  architect,  by  way  of  saving  labor  and  gain- 
ing security  for  its  tiny  fabric,  sometimes  actually,  as  a  seam- 
stress, sews  together  the  edges  of  two  leaves  of  a  tree,  in  which 
her  nest,  at  the  extremity  of  the  branch,  is  then  secured  for  the 
])eriod  of  incubation.  Among  the  Sy/r'/tis.  or  Warblers,  there 
is  a  species,  inhabiting  Florida  and  the  West  Indies,  tli3 
Sy/i'/a  pensi/is,  which  forms  its  woven,  covered  nest  to  rod;  in 


It    •«! 


IMKolJLClI".N. 


X.WIX 


Mi»i>>i|il»i, 
-.1   piiu-lMr- 
Is  ;»s  pi-rma- 
l.idi'^  of  tin; 
:hcs,   Wood 
(Sfiinii'//tJ), 
h  the  incan- 
tation.    '\'\\c 
<liu-iitly  con- 
wati-ry  Jiilua- 
luir  sii|)|u)rt, 
f  the  garden 
L'  i)rogrc>.>.  of 
rt,  c'vcrythinj; 
the   way   of 
leniics  \vhi«h 
i(hue  to  the 
seek  out  and 
endents. 
North  Amer- 
>opial.     It  is 
rd,  but,  with 
itive  niate- 
^rass.     The 
ttle  inferior 
towed  is  so 
jwing  it  to  a 
arnest,   she 
darn  stoik- 
idia  {Sy/ria 
)r  and  gain- 
as  a  seani- 
ee,  in  wliich 
ured  for  the 
rblers,  there 
Indies,     \.\\i 
St  to  roe!:  in 


the  air  at  the  end  of  two  >^l^|K•ndinf^  strings,  rather  than  trust 
it  to  thi'  wilv  enemies  by  whu  h  it  is  surrounded  ;  the  entrani  c. 
for  ^et  urity,  is  also  from  IktIow,  and  through  a  winding  vestibule. 

Our  httle  eheerful  and  ahnost  domestir  Wren  (T>;n;/,>if\fi'\ 
f///r/fs).  whiih  >o  often  disptjles  with  the  Martin  and  the  iJhie- 
bird  the  possession  of  the  box  set  up  tor  their  ace  ommo<lation 
in  the  ganlen  or  near  the  house,  in  his  native  resort  ot  a  hollow 
tree,  or  the  shed  of  some  neglected  out-house,  begins  ju^  labrit 
b\  forming  a  barricade  of  « rooked  interlacing  twigs.  —  a  kiml 
of  <7/<7 <///.v-.//  -yW.w,  —  for  the  detence  of  his  internal  habitation, 
leaving  merely  a  very  small  entram-e  at  the  ujjper  vd.iv.  The 
indiistrv  of  this  little  bird,  and  his  affectit)n  for  his  mate,  are 
somewhat  remarkable,  as  he  frequently  completes  Ins  habita- 
tion without  aid.  and  then  searches  out  a  female  on  whom  to 
bestow  it  ;  but  not  being  always  successful,  or  the  premises  not 
sitisfactory  to  his  mistress,  his  labor  remains  sometimes  with- 
out reward,  and  he  continues  to  warble  out  his  lay  in  solitude. 
I'he  same  gallant  ha'oit  prevails  also  with  our  recluse  Wren  of 
the  marshes.  Wilson's  Marsh  \\'rt;n  {Tn>i^-/i>t/\Vr.\-  />a///.\/n\). 
instead  of  courting  the  advantages  of  a  proximity  to  our  dwel- 
lings, lives  wholly  among  the  reed-fens,  suspending  his  muij- 
l)lastered  and  circularly  covered  nest  usually  to  the  stalks  of 
the  plant  he  so  much  atVects.  Another  marsh  species  inhabits 
the  low  an»l  sw.impy  meadows  of  our  vicinity  {Troi^^/othfi's  />>r- 
r/ft)s/ris),  and  with  ready  address  constructs  its  globular  nest 
wholly  of  the  intertwined  sedge-grass  of  the  tussock  on  which 
it  IS  built  :  these  two  species  never  leave  their  subacpi  itie 
retreats  but  for  the  purpose  of  distant  migration,  and  avoid 
and  deprecate  in  angry  twitterings  every  sort  of  society  but 
their  own. 

Among  the  most  extraordinary  habitations  of  birds,  illustra- 
live  of  their  instinctive  invention,  may  be  mentioned  that  of 
the  iJengal  Grosbeak,  whose  pensile  nest,  suspended  from  the 
lofty  boughs  of  the  Indian  fig-tree,  is  fabricated  of  grass,  like 
cloth,  in  the  form  of  a  large  bottle,  with  the  entrance  down- 
wards ;  it  consists  also  cf  two  or  three  chambers,  supposed  to 
be  occasionally  illuminated  by  the  fire-flies,  which,  however. 


XI 


IX'lRODLCl  ION. 


onlv  constitute  a  part  of  the  food  it  jirobably  convoys  for  the 
su|i]H)rt  of  its  yoin\u.  lUit  tlie  most  cxtraonUnary  instinct  of 
thi-i  kind  known,  is  exhibited  by  the  Sociable,  or  Kepubhcan 
(iiosl)eak  {/'/chci/s  soii'i/s,  Cavh'.k  ),  of  the  ( 'ape  of  ( iood  Hojie. 
In  one  tree,  acconhntj;  to  Mr.  IV.terson,  there  could  not  be 
fewer  than  from  eiL,dit  hundred  to  one  thousand  of  these  nests, 
covered  l)v  one  general  roof,  resembling  that  of  a  thatched 
house,  and  projecting  t)ver  the  laitrance  of  the  ne'>l.  ['heir 
connuon  intluslry  almost  resembles  that  of  bi'e^.  Iteneath  this 
roof  there  are  many  entrances,  each  of  which  forms,  as  it  were, 
a  regular  street,  with  nests  on  either  side,  about  two  inches  dis- 
tant from  eac  h  other.  The  material  which  they  employ  in  this 
buildmg  is  a  kind  of  hue  grass,  whose  seed,  also,  at  the  same 
time  serves  them  for  food. 

That  birds,  besides  their  predilection  for  the  resorts  of  men, 
are  also  capable  of  ap])reciating  conse([uences  to  themselves 
and  \-ouug,  scarcely  admits  the  shadow  of  a  doubt  :  thev  are 
capable  of  communicating  their  tears  and  nicely  caUailating 
the  i)robability  of  danger  or  the  immunities  of  fa\()r.  We  talk 
of  the  cunning  of  the  I'ox  and  the  watchfulness  of  tlie  Weasel  ; 
but  the  I'lagle,  Hawk,  Ra\-en,  Crow,  IVe.  and  lllat  ki)ird  pos- 
sess those  traits  of  shrewdness  and  <  .uition  which  would  seem 
to  arise  from  reflection  and  ])rudence.  'I'hey  well  knou-  the 
])owerful  weaj)ons  and  wiles  of  civilized  man.  Without  being 
able  U^  sill <■  I / powder,  — a  vulgar  idea.  —  the  Crow  and  I'lackbird 
at  once  suspect  the  character  of  the  fatal  gun  ;  thev  will  alight  on 
the  bu'ks  of  cattle  without  any  show  of  apprehension,  and  the 
I've  e\en  lio])s  upon  them  with  insulting  and  garrulous  phuful- 
ness  ;  but  he  llies  instantly  from  his  human  tuiemv.  wnA  ^eems, 
bv  his  de])recating  airs,  aware  of  the  i)ro>cription  that  affects 
his  existence.  A  man  on  horseback  or  in  a  carriage  is  much 
less  an  object  of  suspicion  to  those  wily  birds  than  when  alone  ; 
and  i  ha\-e  been  fretpiently  both  amused  and  surjirised,  in  the 
Southern  States,  by  the  sagacity  of  the  Common  151ackbirds  in 
starting  from  the  ])K)ughing  field,  with  looks  of  alarm,  at  the 
sight  of  a  white  man,  as  distinct  from  and  more  dangerous  than 
the  black  sla\e,  whose  furrow  thev  clcjselv  and   familiarlv  lol- 


V     l!ii 


IM  Ri,»l)LCll<  LN. 


\1 


•nwys  tor  the 
ry  iiisliiut  of 
ir  Republican 

( iood  I  lo]K'. 
could  not  l)c 
»t'  these  ncsls, 
•f  a  thalchcil 
ticsi.  Their 
Beneath  this 
IS,  as  it  were, 
I'o  inciies  clis- 
niplo)  in  this 
,  at  the  sanie 

■sorts  of  men. 

;o   themselves 

iht  ;  they  are 

ly  calculating 

i>r.      We  talk 

'  the  Weasel  ; 

lackbinl  pos- 

would  seem 

ell   know  the 

ithout  being 

1(1  r.lackbird 

will  alight  on 

sion,  and  the 

ous  playful- 

•,  And  seems, 

that  affects 

aage  is  much 

when  alont'  ; 

)rised,  in  the 

Uackbirds  in 

alarm,  at  th.e 

ngcrous  than 

iimiliarlv  fi;l- 


lowed,  I'or  the  insect  food  it  afforded  them,  without  l)etra\ing 
anv  api)earance  of  distrust.  Need  we  any  turiher  jjroof  of 
the  capacity  for  change  of  dispositit)n  than  that  wha  h  has  >o 
long  ojjerated  upon  our  domestic  poultry ?  —  '•  those  \ictims," 
as  lluffon  slightingly  remarks,  '-which  are  multiplied  without 
trouble,  and  sac  rificed  withcnit  regret."  How  different  the  hab- 
its of  our  (loose  and  Duck  in  their  wild  and  tame  condition  1 
Insteatl  of  that  excessive  and  timid  catitiousness.  so  pei uliar 
to  their  sawige  nature,  they  keep  company  with  tlie  doniotic 
cattle,  and  hanlly  shuftle  out  of  our  ])alh.  .\a\-.  the  (lander 
is  a  very  ban-dog.  —  noisy,  gabbling,  and  vociterou>,  he  gi\es 
notice  of  the  stranger's  ap])roach,  is  often  the  terror  ot  the 
medtUing  school-boy,  in  defence  of  his  fostered  brood  ;  and  it 
is  repc^rted  of  anticpiity,  that  by  their  usual  garrulity  and  wat(  h- 
fulness  thev  once  saved  the  Roman  capitol.  Not  onlv  is  the 
di>position  )f  these  birds  changed  by  domestication,  but  ewn 
their  strong  instinct  to  migration,  or  wandering  longings,  are 
wholly  annihilated.  Instead  of  joining  the  airy  phalanx  w'ni(  li 
wing  their  way  to  distant  regions,  they  grovel  contented  in  the 
perjjetual  alnmdance  attendant  on  their  willing  slaver\.  If 
instinct  can  thus  be  destroyed  or  merged  in  artificial  cir(  urn- 
stances,  need  we  wonder  that  this  i)rotecting  and  innate  intelli- 
gence is  ca]>able  also  of  another  change  b\  improsement. 
adapted  to  new  habits  and  unuatural  restraints?  Kven  without 
undergoing  the  slavery  of  domestication,  many  birds  become 
fully  sensible  of  immunities  and  |)rotection  ;  and  in  the  >aine 
acpiatic  and  rude  family  of  bir«ls  already  mentioned  we  may 
(juote  the  tame  habits  of  the  llider  I  )ucks.  In  belaud  and 
other  comitries.  where  they  breed  in  such  numbers  as  to  render 
their  valuable  down  an  object  of  commerce,  thev  are  tbrbidden 
to  be  killed  under  legal  penalty  ;  and  as  if  aware  of  this  legisla- 
tive securit\,  they  sit  on  their  eggs  undisturbed  at  the  ai)|)roach 
of  man,  and  are  entirely  as  familiar,  during  this  season  of 
breeding,  as  our  tamed  Ducks.  Nor  are  they  api)arentl\-  awari' 
of  the  cheat  habitually  practised  upon  them  of  abstracting  the 
down  with  which  the\-  line  their  nests,  though  it  i-^  u>uall\- 
repeated  until  the}   make  the  third  attempt   at    iiKaibation.      If, 


xlii 


TMROULCTIO.N. 


h(;wfVfr,  the  last  nest,  with  its  eggs  and  down,  to  the  lining 
of  which  the  male  is  now  obliged  to  contribnte,  be  taken  away, 
they  sagaciously  leave  the  premises,  without  return.  The  pious 
.Storks,  in  Holland,  j)rotected  by  law  for  their  usefulness,  build 
their  nests  on  the  tops  of  houses  and  churches,  often  in  the 
niidst  of  cities,  in  boxes  prepared  for  them,  like  those  for  our 
Martins:  and,  walking  about  the  streets  and  gardens  without 
aiJi)rehension  of  danger,  perform  the  usual  office  of  domestic 


scavengers. 


'i'hat  birds,  like  our  more  sedentary  and  domestic  quadru- 
peds, are  ca])able  of  exhibiting  attachment  to  those  who  feed 
and  attend  them,  is  undeniable.      Deprived  of  other  society, 
some  of  our  more  intelligent  species,  particularly  the  Thrushes, 
soon  learn  to  seek  out  the  company  of  their  friends  or  ])r()tec- 
tors  of  the  himian  species.     The  Brown  Thrush  and  Mocking 
Bird    become    in  this   way   extremely    familiar,   cheerful,   and 
<'apricioui-ly  playful  ;  the  former,  m  particular,  courts  the  atten- 
tion of  his  master,  follows  his  steps,  complains  when  neglected. 
Hies  to  hull  wh^ii  suffered  to  be  at  large,  and  sings  and  re])oses 
gratelully  perched  on  hishaml.  —  m  short,  by  all  his  actions  he 
appears   cajjable   (A  real   and  affectionate  attachment,  and    is 
jealous  of  e\ery  rival,   jiarticularly  any  other   bird,   which   he 
])erse(  utes  from  his  presence  with  unceasing  hatred.      His  pet- 
ulant dislike  to  ])articular  objects  of  less  moment  is  also  dis- 
jjlayed    by   various   tones  ami   gestures,    which    soon    become 
sufficiently  intelligible  to  those  who  are  near  him.  as  well  as 
his    notes  of  gratulation   and    satisfaction.     His    language    of 
fear  and  surprise  could  never  be  mistaken,  and  an  imitation  of 
his  guttural  low  /s//rrr,  tslwrr,  on  these  occasions,  answers  as 
a  premonitor\-  warning  when  any  danger  awaits  him  from  the 
slv  api^roach  of  (at  or  s(|uirrel.     .\s  I  have  now  descended,  as 
I  may  say,  to  the  actual  biography  of  one  of  these  birds,  which 
I  raised  and  kept  uncaged  for  some  time,  I  may  also  add,  that 
besides  a  jilavful  turn  for  mischief  and  interruption,  in  which 
he  would  sometimes  snatch  off  the  paper  on  which  I  was  writ- 
ing, he  had  a  good  degree  of  curiosity,  and  was  much  surprised 
one  day  by  a  large  springing  beetle  or  F.latey  {E,  oce/iaius), 


IMKODUCIIUX. 


xlii 


,  to  the  liniiiL; 
3e  taken  away, 
'n.  'riic  pious 
efulness.  biiilfl 
s.  often  in  the 
those  for  our 
irdens  without 
e  of  domestic 

lestic  quadru- 
lose  who  feed 
other  society, 
the  Thrushes, 
ids  or  protec- 
and  Mockin-^ 
cheerful,   and 
irts  the  atten- 
en  neglected, 
s  and  reposes 
lis  actions  he 
nent,  and    is 
d,   which   he 
.     His  i)et- 
is  also  dis- 
)on    become 
n.  as  well  as 
anguage    of 
imitation  of 
answers  as 
m  from  the 
scended,  as 
)irds,  which 
so  add,  that 
n.  in   which 
I  was  writ- 
1  suri)rised 
ocellatus), 


which   I  had  caught  and    placed   in  a  ttnnbler.     On  all  such 
occasions  hi>  looks  of  capricious  surprise  were  very  amusing  ;  he 
cautiously  ajjjjroai  hed  the  glass  with  fanning  and  closing  wings, 
.ind  in  an  under-tone  ccjnfessed  his  surprise  at  the  address  and 
iumping   motion   of  the   huge   msect.     At    length   he    became 
bolder,  and  ])erceiving  it  had  a  relation  to  his  ordinary  prey  of 
beetles,  he,  with  some    hesitation,   ventured  to  snatch  at  the 
prisoner  between  temerity  and  playfulness.     But  when  really 
alarmed  or  offended,  he  instantly  tlew  to  his  loftiest  perch,  for- 
bid al!  triendly  ai)i)roaches.  and  for  some  time  kei)t  up  his  low 
and  angry  fs/'irn .     My  late  friend,  the  venerable  William  liar- 
tram,  was  also  much  amused  by  the  intelligence  displayed   by 
thiri  bird,  and  relates  that  one  which  he  kept,  being  fond  of 
hard  bread-crumbs,  found,  when  they  grated  his  throat,  a  very 
rational  remedy  in  softening  them,  by  soaking  in  his  vessel  of 
water :  he  likewise,  by  experience,  discovered  that  the  painful 
l)rick  of  the  wasps  on  which  he  fed,  could  be  obviated  by  ex- 
tracting their  stings,      iiut  it  would   be  too  tedious  and  minute 
to  follow  out  these  glimmerings  of   mtelligence,   which    exist 
as  well  in  birds  as  in  our  most  sagacious  (juadrupeds.     The 
remarkable  talent  of  the  Parrot  for  imitating  the  tones  of  the 
human  voice  has  long  been  familiar.     The  most  extraordinary 
and  well  authenticated  account  of  the  actions  of  one  of  the 
(omnion  ash-colored  species  is  that  of  a  ]>ird  which  Colonel 
()■  Kelly  bought  for  a  hundred  guineas  at  Bristol.     This  indi- 
vidual  not   only  repeated   a   great  nimiber  of  sentences,    but 
aii.u^<t'rei/  many  (piestions,  and  was  able  to  whistle  a  variety  of 
tune>.     While  thus  engageil   it  beat  tmie  with  all  the  apjiear- 
ance  of  science,  and  possessed  a  judgment,  or  ear  so  accurate. 
th;!t  if  by  chance  it  mistook  a  note,  it  would  revert  to  the  bar 
where  the  mistake  was  made,  correct  itself,  and  still  beatimr 
regular  time,  go  again  through  the  whole  with  perfect  exact- 
ness.     So  celebrated  was  this  surprising  bird  that  an  obituary 
notice  (jf  its  death  appeared  in  the  "(ieneral  livening  Post" 
for  the  9th  of  October,  1802.    In  this  account  it  is  added,  that 
besides  her  great  musical  faculties,  she  could  express  her  wants 
articulately,  and  give  her  orders  in  a  manner  approaching  to 


xli\- 


INTRODL'L  TioX. 


rationality.  She  was,  at  the  time  of  iier  decease,  sii])|)().-,ecl  to 
be  more  than  thirty  years  of  age.  The  colonel  was  repeat- 
edly offered  five  hundred  guineas  a  yar  for  the  bird,  by 
])ersons  who  wislied  to  make  a  public  exhibition  of  iier  :  but 
out  of  tenderness  to  his  favorite  he  constantly  refused  the 
offer. 

'The  story  related  by  (ioldsnuth  of  a  i)arrot  belonging  to 
King  Henry  the  Seventh,  is  very  amusing,  and  possibly  true.  It 
was  kept  in  a  room  in  the  Palace  of  Westminster,  overlooking 
the  Thames,  and  had  naturally  enough  learned  a  store  of  boat- 
men's phrases;  one  day,  sporting  somewhat  incautiously.  Poll 
fell  into  the  river,  but  had  rationality  enough,  it  a])pears.  to 
make  a  profitable  use  of  the  words  she  had  learned,  and  ac- 
cordingly vociferated,  "  A  boat  !  twenty  pounds  tor  a  boat!" 
This  welcome  sound  reaching  the  ears  of  a  waterman,  soon 
brought  assistance  to  the  Parrot,  who  delivered  it  to  the 
king,  with  a  re(iuest  to  be  jiaid  the  rountl  sum  so  readily  ])rom- 
ised  by  the  bird  ;  but  his  Majesty,  dissatisfied  with  the  exor- 
bitant demand,  agreed,  at  any  rati-,  to  give  him  what  the 
bird  should  now  award  ;  in  answer  to  which  reference.  Poll 
shrewdly  cried,  ''(live  the  knave  a  groat!" 

The  story  given  by  Locke,  in  his  -'  l"]ssay  on  the  Human 
rnderstanding,"  though  approaching  closely  to  rationality,  and 
apparently  mii)robable,  xnay  not  be  a  greater  effort  than  could 
have  been  accom])lished  by  Colonel  ()' Kelly's  bird.  This 
Parrot  had  attracied  the  attention  of  Prince  Maurice,  then 
governor  of  Prazil,  who  had  a  curiosity  to  witness  its  powers. 
The  bird  was  introduced  into  the  room,  wtiere  sat  the  prince 
in  (  ompany  with  several  Dutcdimen.  On  viewing  them,  the 
Parrot  exclaimed,  in  Portuguese,  '*  What  a  company  of  white 
men  are  here  !  "  Pointing  to  the  prince,  they  asked,  "  Who  is 
that  man? "  to  which  the  Parrot  replies,  '•  Some  general  or 
other."  The  prince  now  asked,  "  l''rom  what  j)lace  ilo  you 
come?"  The  answer  was,  *' P'rom  Marignan."  "'I\.>  whom 
do  you  belong?"  It  answered,  "  To  a  Portuguese."  "What 
do  you  do  there?"  To  which  the  Parrot  replied,  "  1  look  after 
chickens  !  "     The  prince,  now  laughing,  exclaimed,  "  Ydu  look 


I\rR(»I)LCTl().\. 


xl 


V 


C,   SllJ)[)()^,(.'tl   to 

el  was  rcpcat- 
•  thf  bird,  liv 
n  (jf  Ikt  :  luit 
ly  rcfusdl    ihc 

hclongiiit;  lo 
isibly  true.  It 
■r,  overlook int; 

store  of  l)();it- 
-•autiously,  Toll 

it  a])i)ears.  lo 
irned,  and  ac  - 
;  for  a  boat  !  " 
•aterman,  soon 
'ed    it    to    the 

readily  prom- 
vith  the  e\(^r- 
lim    what    the 

efereiK  e,  Poll 

II  the   Human 

itionality.  and 

rt  than  could 

bird.      This 

'^laurice,  then 

ss  its  powers. 

at  the  jMinre 

ni;   them,  the 

)any  of  white 

ed,  '"  Who  is 

genenil    or 

)la('e   do  vou 


a 


se. 


I  ('  Whom 
"  "What 
1  look  after 
"  \'(>//  look 


.ifter  <:hickens  !  "  To  which  Poll  |)ertinently  answered.  •' Yes, 
/_  —  and  I  know  well  enough  how  to  do  it  ;  "  clucking  at  the 
■>anie  instant  in  the  manner  of  a  calling  brood-hen. 

The  docility  of  birds  in  catching  and  exjjressing  sounds 
depends,  of  course,  upon  the  perfection  of  their  voice  and 
hearing:,  —  assisted  also  by  no  inconsiderable  power  of  memory. 
The  imitative  actions  and  passiveness  of  some  small  birds,  such 
a.>  (loldfmches.  Linnets,  and  Canaries,  are,  however,  quite  as 
(  urious  as  their  expression  of  sounds.  A  Sieur  Roman  exhib- 
ited in  Knc^land  some  of  these  birds,  one  oi'  which  simulated 
death,  and  was  held  up  by  the  tail  or  claw  without  showing  any 
active  signs  of  life.  V  second  balanced  itself  on  the  head, 
with  its  claws  in  the  air.  A  third  imitated  a  milkmaid  going  to 
market,  with  pails  on  its  s';o.ilders.  A  fourth  mimicked  a 
X'enetian  girl  ''  -k'HL  3ut  at  a  window.  A  fifth  acted  the 
s(jldier,  and  moun  .  guard  as  a  sentinel.  The  sixth  was  a 
cannonier.  with  a  cap  on  its  head,  a  firelock  on  its  shoulder, 
and  with  a  match  in  its  claw  disc  barged  a  small  cannon.  1  ho 
same  bird  also  acted  as  if  w.)unded,  was  wheeled  in  a  little 
l),!rrow,  as  it  were  to  the  hospital  :  after  which  it  flew  away 
before  the  company.  The  -^exenth  turned  a  kind  of  windmill  ; 
and  the  last  bird  stood  amidst  a  discharge  of  small  fireworks, 
without  showing  any  sign  of  fear. 

A  similar  exhibition,  in  which  twenty- four  C"anary  birds 
were  the  actors,  was  also  shown  in  London  in  1820,  by  a 
i''renchiiian  named  Dujon;  one  of  these  suffered  itself  to  be 
>hot  at,  and  falling  down,  as  if  deatl,  was  ])ut  into  a  little 
wheelbarrow  and  conveyed  away  by  one  of  its  comrades. 

'['he  docility  of  the  Canary  and  (ioldfinch  is  thus,  by  dint  of 
se\-ere  education,  put  in  fair  competition  with  that  of  the  dog ; 
and  we  cannot  deny  to  the  feathered  creation  a  share  of  that 
kind  of  rational  intelligence  exhibited  by  some  of  our  sagacious 
iiu;ulrui)eds,  —  an  incii)ient  knowledge  of  cause  and  effect  far 
removed  from  the  unimprovable  and  unchangeable  destinies  of 
in>tinct.  Nature  ])robably  delights  less  m  producing  such 
animated  machines  than  we  are  apt  to  suppose  ;  and  amidst 
the  mutabilitv  of  circumstances  bv  which  almost  ever\-  animated 


xhi 


iNTRoni'i  ri()\, 


being  is  siirrounflcd,  there  seeni^  lo  hv  a  frequent  ilemnnd  .r 
that  reUeving  inxiiition  denietl  to  those  aniniils  uiiich  are 
solely   governed    by   intlexible   instinrt. 

The  velocity  with  which  birds  are  able  to  travel  in  their 
aerial  element  lias  no  parallel  among  terrestrial  animals  :  and 
this  ])owcrtul  cajjacity  for  jjrogressive  motion  is  bestowed  in 
aid  of  their  i)eculiar  wants  and  instinctive  habits.  The  swiftest 
horse  may  ])erha])s  proceed  a  mile  in  something  less  than  two 
minutes  ;  but  such  exertion  is  unnatural,  and  quickly  fatal.  An 
llagle,  whose  stretch  of  wing  exceeds  seven  feet,  with  ease  and 
majesty,  and  without  any  extraordinary  effort,  rises  out  of  sight 
in  less  than  three  minutes,  and  therefore  must  tly  more  than 
three  thousand  five  hundred  yards  in  a  minute,  or  at  the  rate 
of  sixty  miles  in  an  hour.  At  this  sj^eed  a  bird  would  easily  ])er- 
tbrm  a  journey  of  six  hundred  miles  in  a  day,  since  ten  hours 
only  would  be  recjuired,  which  woukl  allow  freijuent  halts,  and 
the  whole  of  the  night  for  repose.  Swallows  and  other  migra- 
tory birds  might  therefore  i)ass  trom  northern  Europe  to  the 
equator  in  seven  or  eight  days.  In  fact,  Adanson  saw,  on  the 
coast  of  Senegal,  Swallows  that  had  arrived  there  on  the  9th  of 
October,  or  eight  or  nine  days  after  their  dejiarture  from  the 
colder 'continent.  A  Canary  I'alcon,  sent  to  the  Duke  of  I,erma, 
returned  in  sixteen  hours  from  Andalusia  to  the  island  of  Tene- 
riffe,  —  a  distance  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  The  (lulls 
of  llarbadoes,  according  to  Sir  Hans  Sloane,  make  excursions  in 
Hocks  to  the  distance  of  more  than  two  hundred  miles  after 
their  food,  and  then  return  the  same  day  to  their  rocky  roosts. 

If  we  allow  that  any  natural  powers  come  in  aid  of  the 
instinct  to  migration,  so  powerfiil  and  unifi)rni  in  birds,  besides 
their  vast  (~ai)acity  for  motion,  it  must  be  in  the  perfection  and 
delicacy  of  their  vision,  of  which  we  have  such  striking  ex- 
am])les  in  the  rapacious  tribes.  It  is  possible  that  at  times 
they  may  be  directed  prmcii)ally  by  atmos[)heric  phenomena 
alone  ;  and  hence  we  find  that  their  a])pearance  is  frequently 
a  concomitant  of  the  apjiroaching  season,  and  the  wild  Petrel 
of  the  ocean  is  not  the  only  harbinger  of  storm  and  coming 
change.     The  currents  of  the  air,  in  those  which  make  exlen- 


INTRODrClM'X. 


Xl\  11 


sive  voyages,  are  se(iuloiisly  employed  ;  and  hence,  at  certain 
^iMsons.  when  they  are  nsually  in  mo'.i(>n,  we  find  their  arri\-,il 
or  departure  accelerated  by  a  favorable  direction  of  the  winds. 
That  birds  also  should  be  able  to  derive  advantage  in  their 
journeys  from  the  acuteness  of  their  vision,  is  not  more  wonder- 
ful than  the  capacity  of  a  dog  to  discover  the  ])atli  of  his 
master,  for  many  miles  in  succession,  by  the  mere  scent  of  his 
steps.  It  IS  said,  indeed,  in  corroboration  of  this  conjecture, 
that  the  Passenger,  or  Carrying  Pigeon,  is  not  certain  to  return 
U)  the  place  from  whence  it  is  brought,  unless  it  be  conveyed 
in  an  (Ji)en  wicker  basket  admitting  a  \ie\v  of  the  passing 
scenery.  Many  of  our  birds,  however,  follow  instinctively  the 
great  valleys  and  river-courses,  which  tend  towanU  their 
southern  or  warmer  destination  ;  thus  the  great  valle\s  of 
the  C(jnnecticut,  the  Hudson,  the  1  )elaware,  the  Susquehanna, 
the  .Santee,  and  more  particularly  the  vast  Mississip]>i,  are  often, 
in  part,  the  leading  routes  of  our  migrating  birds.  IJut,  in  fact, 
mysterious  as  is  the  voyage  and  de])arture  of  our  birds,  like 
those  of  all  other  countries  where  they  remove  at  all,  the  des- 
tination of  many  is  rendered  certain,  as  soon  as  we  visit  the 
southern  parts  of  the  Union,  or  the  adjoining  countries  of  Mex- 
ico, to  which  they  have  retired  for  the  winter  ;  for  now,  where 
they  were  nearly  or  wholly  unknown  in  summer,  they  throng 
bv  thousands,  and  flit  before  our  path  like  the  showering  leaves 
of  autumn.  It  is  curious  to  observe  the  pertinacity  of  this 
adventurous  instinct  in  thcjse  more  truly  and  exclusively  insec- 
tivorous species  which  wholly  leave  us  for  the  mild  and  genial 
regions  of  the  tropics.  Many  penetrate  to  their  destination 
through  Mexico  overland  ;  to  these  the  whole  journey  is 
merely  an  amusing  and  varied  feast.  Wwt  to  a  much  smaller 
number,  who  keep  too  fir  toward  the  sea-coast,  and  enter  the 
ocean-bound  peninsula  of  Morida,  a  more  arduous  aerial  voy- 
age IS  presented  ;  the  wide  ocean  must  be  crossed,  by  the 
young  and  inexperienced  as  well  as  the  old  and  venturous, 
before  they  arrive  either  at  the  tropical  continent  or  its  scat- 
tered islands.  When  the  wind  ])roves  propitious,  however, 
our  little  voyagers  wing  their  imerring    way    like    prosperf)us 


xKiii 


IN'lR(JDLCriU\. 


fairies ;  hut  l)affle(l  1)\'  storms  and  contrary  gales,  they  often 
suffer  from  want,  and  at  times,  like  the  (Quails,  become  victims 
to  tlu'  devouring  waves.  On  such  unfortunate  occasions  (as 
Mr.  liullock  ^  witnessed  in  a  voyage  near  to  Vera  Cruz  late  in 
autumn),  the  famished  travellers  familiarly  crowd  the  decks  of 
the  vessel,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  rest  and  a  scanty  meal 
preparator)'  to  the  conclusion  of  their  un])ropiti()us  llight. 

Superficial  observers,  substituting  their  own  ideas  for  facts, 
are  ready  to  conclude,  and  frecpiently  assert,  that  the  old  and 
young,  before  leaving,  assemble  together  t\)r  mutual  departure  ; 
this  may  be  true  in  many  instances,  but  in  as  many  more  a 
different  arrangement  (jbtains.  The  young,  often  instinctively 
vagrant,  herd  together  in  separate  Hocks  ])revious  to  their 
departure,  and  guidetl  alone  by  the  innate  monition  of  Nature, 
seek  neither  the  aitl  nor  the  company  of  the  old  ;  conse(|uently 
in  some  countries  flocks  of  young  of  particular  species  are  alone 
ol)served,  and  in  others,  far  distant,  we  recogni/e  the  old. 
Vvom  jiarental  aid  the  juvenile  company  have  obtained  all  that 
Nature  intended  to  bestow.  —  existence  and  education;  and 
they  are  now  thrown  upon  the  world  aiiiong  their  numerous 
companions,  with  no  other  necessary  guide  than  self-jjreserving 
instinct.  In  l'vUroi)e  it  appears  that  these  bands  of  the  young 
always  affect  even  a  warmer  climate  than  the  old  ;  the  aeration 
of  their  blood  not  being  yet  complete,  they  are  more  sensible 
to  the  rig(jrs  of  cold.  The  season  of  the  year  has  also  its  effect 
on  the  movements  of  bu'ds  ;  thus  certain  species  i)roceed  to 
their  northern  destination  nicjre  to  the  eastward  in  the  spring, 
and  return  from  it  to  the  south-westward  in  autumn. 

The  habitudes  and  extent  of  the  migrations  of  birds  admit 
of  ctMisiderable  varietv.  Some  only  tly  before  the  inundating 
storms  of  winter,  and  return  with  the  first  dawn  of  s])ring  ; 
these  do  not  leave  the  continent,  and  only  migrate  in  cpiest  of 
food  when  it  actually  begins  to  fail.  Among  these  may  be 
named  our  common  Song  Sparrow,  Chipping  Sparrow.  Blue- 
bird, Robin,  Pewee,  Cedar  Bird,  Blackbird,  Meadow  Lark,  and 
many  more.     Others  ])ass  into  warmer  climates  in  the  autumn, 

1  Tiavels  in  Mexico. 


I.\  TRfJULCl'ION. 


X 1 1  x 


es,  they  often 
iconic  victims 
occasions  ( as 
1  Cruz  late  in 
the  decks  of 

scanty  meal 
s  (light, 
eas  for  facts. 

the  old  and 
il  departure  ; 
lany  more  a 

instinctively 
Kis  to  their 
m  of  Nature, 
consequently 
:ies  are  ahjne 
i/e  the  old. 
ined  all  that 
:ation  ;  and 
ir  numerous 
f-preserving 
)f 

le  aeration 
ore  sensible 

so  its  effect 

)rocee(l   to 

the  spring, 

)irds  admit 
inundating 
of  spring  ; 
n  (piest  of 
se  mav  i)e 
row.  ijiue- 
l.ark,  and 
le  autumn, 


after  rearing  their  xoung.  Some  are  so  given  to  wandcrmg 
that  their  (  hoice  of  a  (ountry  is  only  regulated  by  the  resources 
which  U  i)lfd>  lor  subsistence  ;  such  arc  the  I'igeon>,  Flerons 
of  >e\eral  kinds.  Snipes,  wild  (leese  and  1  )uck>,  the  wandering 
Albatros,  and  Waxen  Chatterer. 

The  greater  number  of  birds  travel  in  the  night  ;  mjitu- 
>periiv,.  howe\er.  prut  eed  only  by  day.  as  the  diurnal  birds  of 
prcv.  —  Crows,  I'ies,  Wrens,  Creepers.  Cross-bills,  Larks,  I5lue- 
bii<U,  Swallows,  and  M)me  others.  Those  which  travi-l  wholly 
in  the  night  are  the  Owls,  lUitcher  ISirds,  Kingli>her>, 'I'hrushes, 
Flycatchers,  Night  Hawks,  \\"hip-poor-wills.  and  also  a  great 
number  of  aquati(  birds,  whose  motions  are  also  principally 
nocturnal,  except  i:i  the  cold  and  desolate  ni^rthern  regions, 
where  they  usually  retire  to  breed.  Other  binN  are  -^o  ]iow- 
erfully  imi)elled  by  this  go\i'rning  motive  to  migration  that 
they  stop  neither  day  nor  night  ;  such  are  the  Herons,  Mota- 
<illas,  I'loMTs,  Swans.  Cranes,  Wild  (leese.  Storks,  etc.  ^\'hen 
untow.ird  (  ircum^tances  render  haste  necessary,  certain  kiniU 
of  l)ird>.  which  ordinarily  travel  only  in  the  night,  continue 
their  rome  during  the  day,  and  scarcely  allow  themselves  time 
to  eat  :  yet  the  singing-birds,  |)roperly  so  called,  never  migrate 
by  day,  whatever  may  hap])en  to  them.  And  it  may  here  be 
incjuired.  with  astonishment,  how  these  fee]:»le  but  enthusiastic 
animals,  are  able  to  ])ass  the  time,  thus  engaged,  without  the 
aid  of  recruiting  sleep?  lUit  so  powerful  is  this  necessity  for 
trawl  that  its  incentiw  breaks  out  equally  in  those  which  are 
detained  in  captivity,  —  so  much  so  that  although  during  the 
day  they  are  no  more  alert  than  usual,  and  onh"  occupied 
in  taking  nourishment,  at  the  approach  of  night,  far  from  seek- 
ing repose,  as  usual,  they  manifest  great  agitation,  sing  without 
ceasing  in  the  cage,  whether  the  apartment  is  lighted  or  not  : 
and  when  the  moon  shines,  they  appear  still  more  restless,  as  it 
IS  their  custom,  at  lilierty,  to  seek  the  advantage  of  its  light 
for  facilitating  their  route.  Some  birds,  while  engaged  in  their 
iourney,  still  find  means  to  live  without  halting,  — the  Swallow, 
while  traversing  the  sea,  pursues  its  insect  ])rev  :  those  who 
can  subsist  on  fish  without  any  serious  effort,  feed  as  they  pass 

vol..  I.  —  ,/ 


1 


INTkODUCTlcV. 


wr  ffraze  tlu'  surface  of  the  deep.  If  the  W'len,  the  Creeper, 
.111(1  tlic  'I'itmoiiNe  rest  for  an  instant  on  a  tree  to  snat<  h  a  hasty 
morsel,  in  the  next  they  are  on  the  wing,  to  fulfil  their  destina- 
tion. However  abundant  may  be  the  nt)urishnKiU  which 
|)rrM'ms  Itself  to  supply  their  wants,  in  general.  binU  of  passage 
rarely  remain  more  than  two  days  together  in  a  i)la(  e. 

The  cries  of  many  birds,  while  engaged  in  their  aerial  voy- 
age, are  such  as  are  only  heard  on  this  important  occasicju,  and 
appear  necessary  for  the  direction  of  those  which  tly  in  assem- 
|)K(1  ranks. 

1  )uring    these    migrations    it    has  been  observed   that  birds 


the   hiuh 


)(  tht 


My  onimaruy  m  the  higher  regions  ot  the  air,  excein  when 
fogs  force  them  to  seek  a  lower  elevation,  '['his  habit  is 
l)articularly  pre\alent  with  Wild  (Icese,  Storks,  ("ranes,  and 
Herons,  which  often  pass  at  such  a  height  as  to  be  scarcely 
distinguishable. 

We  shall  not  here  enter  into  any  detailed  description  of  the 
manner  in  which  each  si)ecies  conducts  its  migration,  but 
shall  content  ourselves  with  citing  the  single  remarkable  exam- 
])le  of  the  motions  of  the  Cranes.  Of  all  migrating  birds,  these 
api)ear  to  be  endowed  with  the  greatest  share  of  foresight. 
They  never  undertake  the  journey  alone  :  throughout  a  circle 
of  several  miles  they  ai)i)ear  to  communicate  the  intention 
of  commencing  their  route.  Several  days  ])revious  to  their 
departure  they  call  upon  each  other  b\-  a  peculiar  cry,  as  if 
giving  warning  to  assemble  at  a  central  jioint  ;  the  favorable 
moment  being  at  length  arrived,  they  betake  themselves  to 
tbght,  and,  in  military  style,  fall  into  two  lines,  which,  uniting 
at  the  summit,  form  an  extended  angle  with  twt)  equal  sides. 
At  the  central  point  of  the  phalanx,  the  cliief  takes  his  station, 
t(^  whf)m  the  whole  troop,  by  their  subordination,  appear  to 
have  ])ledged  their  obedience.  The  commander  has  not  only 
the  ])ainful  task  of  breaking  the  path  through  the  air,  but  he 
has  also  the  charge  of  watching  fcjr  the  common  safety  ;  to 
avoid  the  attacks  of  birds  of  prey  ;  to  range  the  two  lines  in  a 
circle  at  the  approach  of  a  tempest,  in  order  to  resist  with 
more  effect  the  scjualls  which   menace   the  dispersion  of  the 


IliS 


INTRODUCTION. 


n,  the  Creeper, 
0  snatth  a  hasty 
il  their  destina- 
ishinent  which 
)ir(U  of  passagi' 
plai  c. 

heir  aerial  \oy- 
t  occasion,  and 
:h  tly  in  assem- 

■ved  that  birds 
■,  excel )t  when 

This  hal)it  is 
S   Cranes,   and 

to  be  scarcely 

icription  of  the 
mitrration,  but 
larkable  exam- 
pg  birds,  these 
of  foresight, 
ighout  a  circle 
the   intention 
vious  to  their 
iiliar  cry,  as  if 
the   favorable 
hemselves   to 
lich,  uniting 
)  equal  sides. 
•s  his  station, 
n,  appear  to 
has  not  only 
e  air,  but  he 
n  safety  ;    to 
|\vo  lines  in  a 
resist  with 
rsion  of  the 


linear  ranks:  and,  lastl>,  it  ir.  to  their  lea.ler  that  the  fatigue.! 
< ompmy  look  up  to  np|)oint  the  ino^t  (  onvenieni  places  for 
nourishineiil  and  repose.  Still,  important  as  i>  the  station  and 
function  of  the  aerial  director,  its  existence  is  but  luomeiuary. 
As  soon  as  he  k-els  sensible  of  fitigue,  he  cnk>,  his  place  to 
thf  nr\i  m  the  file,  and  retires  himself  t,,  its  extremity.  Dur- 
nig  the  night  their  Ihght  is  attended  with  considerable  noise; 
the  loud  cries  which  we  hear,  seem  to  be  the  marching  orders 
of  the  chief,  answered  by  the  ranks  who  follow  his  command-.. 
\\  iUl  (leese  and  several  kinds  of  Ducks  also  make  their  aerial 
voyage  nearl\'  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Cranes.  'I'he  loud 
call  of  the  passing  ( leese,  as  they  soar  se(  urel\-  through  the 
higher  regions  of  the  air,  is  fimiliar  to  all  :  but  as  an  additional 
proof  of  their  sagacity  and  caution,  we  may  remark  that  when 
fogs  in  the  atmosphere  render  their  llight  necessarily  \o\v,  they 
steal  along  in  sil'.uice,  as  if  aware  of  the  danger  to  which  their 
lower  path  now  exposes  them. 

The  direction  of  the  winds  is  of  great  imi)ortance  to  the 
iiiiL;rjtion  of  birds,  not  only  as  an  assistance  when  favorable, 
but  to  be  avoided  when  contrary,  as  the  most  disastrous  of 
accidents,  when  they  are  traversing  the  ocean.  If  tlu,'  l)rt'e/e 
suddenly  (  hange,  the  aerial  voyagers  tack  to  meet  it,  and  di- 
verging from  their  original  course,  seek  the  asylum  of  some 
land  or  island,  as  is  the  case  very  fre(iuep*ly  with  the  (^)uails, 
who  conseipiently,  in  their  passage  across  the  Mediterranean, 
at  variable  times,  make  a  tlescent  in  immense  numbers  on  the 
islands  of  the  .Archipelago,  where  they  wait,  sometimes  for 
weeks,  the  arrival  of  a  pro])itious  gale  to  terminate  their  jour- 
ney. And  hence  we  perce-ve  the  object  of  migrating  birds, 
when  they  alight  upon  a  vessel  at  sea  :  it  has  fallen  in  their 
course  while  seeking  refuge  from  a  baffling  bretve  or  o\er- 
whelming  storm,  and  after  a  few  hours  of  rest  they  wing  their 
way  to  their  previous  dest-ination.  That  Nature  has  provided 
am])le  means  to  fulfil  the  wonderful  instinct  of  these  feeble  but 
cautious  wanderers,  ai)])ears  in  every  part  of  their  economy. 
As  the  period  ajiproaches  for  their  general  de])arture,  and  the 
chilli;  of  autumn  are  felt,  their  bodies  begin  to  be  loaded  with 


INTK(»I>1(  HON. 


<i-llii1.ir  niatti-r,  ;iii(l  ;it  no  season  of  ihf  yt-ar  an-  tlu-  triR'  binls 
ot  l);!ssaj.,'t'  so  f.il  a>  at  the  approach  of  ihL'ir  ini^ralion.  I'hi' 
( iiill>,  ("raiK's,  ami  IIc'ron>,  ahnost  proverbially  ina(  ileiit.  arc  al 
this  season  loadeil  with  this  rcser\oir  of  nulriiuent,  which  is 
intended  to  adininistir  to  their  support  through  their  arduous 
and  hazardous  voyage.  With  thir>  natural  provision,  dormant 
aniniaN  also  c  iMuiuente  their  long  and  dreary  >leep  through 


the  winter,  —  a  nutritious  resource  no  less  ne<essa 


ry  ni  birds 


while  engaged  in  fulfilling  the  powerful  and  waking  reveries  of 


nistinct. 


Uut  if  the  act  of  migration  surprise  u>  when  jierl"ormed  by 


birds  of  acti 


rkable  wht 


is  oi  active  power  ot  wmg,  it  is  still  more  remarKaDie  wnei 
undertaken  by  those  of  sht)rt  and  laborious  tlight.  like  the 
Coots  and  Kails,  who,  in  fai  t,  perform  a  part  of  their  route  on 
foot.  The  (Ireat  Penguin  {.-//<(/  i>ti/>iiinis).  the  Ciuillemot,  and 
tlu'  Divers,  e\en  make  their  voyage  <  hietly  by  dint  of  swim- 
ming. The  young  l.oons  {Co/ym/'us  i:;/tuia/is),  l)red  in  inland 
])onds,  though  |jroverbially  lame  (and  hence  the  name  of  Lom, 
or  l.oon),  without  recourse  to  their  wings,  which  are  at  this 
time  ineffn  lent,  continue  their  route  from  pond  to  pond, 
floundering  over  the  intervening  land  ])y  night,  until  at  length 
they  gain  some  creek  of  the  sea,  and  finally  complete  their 
necessary  migration  by  water, 

Hirds  of  passage,  both  in  the  old  and  new  continents,  art- 
observed  generally  to  migrate  southwest  in  autumn,  and  to 
jxiss  to  the  northeast  in  spring.  Parry,  however,  it  seems,  ob- 
served the  birds  of  (ireenland  proceed  to  the  southeast.  This 
a])parent  aberration  from  the  usual  course  may  be  accounted 
for  by  considering  the  habits  of  these  atpiatic  birds.  Intent  on 
food  and  shelter,  a  part,  bending  their  course  over  the  cohl 
regions  of  Norway  and  Russia,  seek  the  shores  of  luirojje  ; 
while  another  division,  eipially  considerable,  proceeding  south- 
west, spread  themselves  over  the  interior  of  the  I'nited  States 
and  the  coast  and  kingdom  of  Mexico. 

'I'his  propensity  to  change  their  climate,  induced  by  what- 
ever cause,  is  not  c(jnfined  to  the  birds  of  temperate  regions  ; 
it  likewise  exists  among  many  of  those  who  inhabit  the  tiopics. 


\  '-' 


IMkoKlCTlnN. 


liii 


.*  tlu"  triK'  birds 
iij,'r;itit»M.  riic 
iiarili'iit,  arc  at 
lUfiit,  uhi<  h  IS 
ii  their  arduous 
isioii.  doruiam 
sk'cj)  liirtMiijh 
fssary  in  birds 
iing  reveries  of 

performed  by 
narkable  when 
tlii,dit.  hke   the 
their  route  on 
liuilleniot,  and 
dint  of  swim- 
bred  in  inland 
name  of  I.om, 
<h  are  at   this 
[jnd    to    pond, 
mtil  at  len.uth 
:omplete  their 

)ntinents,  are 

min,  and   to 

it  seems,  ob- 

least.      This 

)e  accounted 

Intent  on 

er  tlie  cold 

of  I-^urope  ; 

eding  south- 

'nited  States 

ed  by  what- 
ate  regions  ; 
the  t topics. 


.\»|uatic  birds  of  several  kinds,  according  to  Humboldt,  cross 
the  ime  <>n  either  side  about  the  time  of  die  periodu  a!  ri-.e  of 
the  riverN.  Waterton,  like\vi->e.  who  spent  mu»  h  tune  \n  l>ciu- 
er  ira  and  the  neighl»oring  countries,  observed  that  the  visits  of 
many  of  the  tropical  birds  were  periodical.  l'hn>  the  wonder- 
lul  (ampanero,  whose  solemn  voiie  is  heard  at  mtervals  tolling 
like  the  convent-bell,  was  rare  to  Waterton.  but  fretjuent  in 
llra/il,  where  it  most  probably  retires  to  breed.  I'he  failure 
of  partitiilar  food  at  any  sea>on,  in  the  mildest  climate,  would 
be  a  sufticient  incentive  to  a  partial  and  overland  migration 
with  any  speciei  oi  the  feathcreii  race. 

The  longevity  of  birds  is  various,  ami,  diflerent  from  the 
case  of  man  and  <|uadnipe<ls.  >eems  to  bear  but  little  propt>r- 
tion  to  the  age  at  which  they  a«(|uire  maturity  of  character.  A 
tew  months  seems  sufficient  to  bring  the  bird  into  full  j)os^e^- 
sion  of  all  its  native  powers  :  and  there  are  some,  a-^  our  Marsh 
Titmouse  or  Chickadee,  which,  in  fact,  as  soon  as  tledge*!,  are 
no  l(jnger  to  be  distinguished  trom  their  parents.  Land  ani- 
mals generally  'ive  Nix  t)r  seven  times  as  long  a-  the  ])eriod 
reciuired  to  attam  maturit)  ;  but  in  birds  the  rate  is  ten  times 
greater.  In  projiortion  to  their  si/e,  they  are  ako  f .  r  more 
vivacious  and  long-lived  than  other  animals  of  the  superior 
class.  ( )ur  knowledge  of  the  longevity  of  birds  is,  however, 
necessarily  limited  to  the  few  examples  of  domesticated  species 
which  we  have  been  able  to  support  through  life  :  the  result  of 
these  examples  is,  that  our  tlomestic  Fowls  have  lived  twenty 
years  ;  Pigeons  have  excee<led  that  period  ;  Parrots  have  at- 
tained more  than  thirty  years,  (ieese  live  ])robably  more  than 
half  a  century  ;  a  Pelican  has  lived  to  eighty  years  ;  and  Swans, 
Ravens,  and  Kagles  have  exceeded  a  century.  I-Aen  Linnets, 
in  the  unnatural  restraints  of  the  cage,  have  sur\ived  for  four- 
teen or  fifteen  years,  and  Canaries  twenty-five.  To  a<  count  for 
this  remarkable  tenacity  of  life,  nothing  very  satisfactory  has 
been  offered  ;  though  Pjuffbn  is  of  opinion  that  the  sot't  an<l 
jiorous  nature  of  their  bones  contributes  to  this  end.  as  the 
general  ossification  and  rigidity  of  the  system  perpetually  tends 
to  abridge  the  boundaries  of  life. 


liv 


IMROUUCTIOX. 


In  .1  general  way  it  may  be  considered  as  essential  for  the 
bird  to  lly  as  it  is  for  the  lish  to  swim  or  the  quadrui)ed  to 
walk  ,  yet  in  all  these  tribes  there  are  exceptions  to  the  general 
habits.  I'hus  among  qiuulrupeds  the  bats  fly,  the  seals  swim, 
and  the  beaver  and  otter  swim  better  than  they  can  walk.  So 
also  among  birds,  the  Ostrich,  C.'assowary,  and  some  others, 
incapable  of  Hying,  are  obliged  to  walk  ;  others,  as  the  Dippers, 
lly  and  swim  but  never  walk.  Some,  like  the  Swallows  and 
Hummmg  liirds,  pass  their  time  chiefly  on  the  wing.  A  far 
greater  number  of  birds  live  on  the  water  than  of  quadrui)eds, 
for  n\  tlu-  latter  there  are  not  more  than  five  or  six  kinds  fur- 
nished with  webbed  or  oar-like  feet,  whereas  of  birds  with  this 
structure  there  are  several  hundred.  The  lightness  of  their 
featherb  and  bones,  as  well  as  the  boatdike  form  of  their  boilies, 
contributes  greatly  to  facilitate  their  buoyancy  and  i)rogress  in 
the  water,  and  their  feet  serve  as  oars  to  propel  them. 

'I'hus  in  whate\'er  way  we  \iew  the  feathered  tribes  which 
surround  us.  we  shall  fivul  mucli  both  to  amuse  and  instruct. 
^\  e  heai  ken  to  their  songs  with  renewed  delight,  as  the  harbin- 
gers and  nssociates  of  the  season  they  accompany.  Their 
return,  after  a  long  absence,  is  hailed  with  gratitude  to  the 
Auth(ir  of  all  existence  ;  and  the  cheerless  solitude  of  inani- 
mate Nature  is,  by  their  presence,  attuned  to  life  and  harmony. 
Nor  (if)  they  \Iont  atlminister  to  the  amusement  and  luxury  of 
life  ;  faithful  aids  as  well  as  messengers  of  the  seasons,  they 
associate  round  o.r  tenement'^,  and  defend  the  various  produc- 
tions of  the  earth,  on  which  we  so  much  rely  for  subsistence, 
from  the  <lestructive  depredations  of  myriads  of  insects,  which, 
but  for  timely  riddance  by  unnumbered  binls,  would  be  fol- 
lowed by  a  general  failure  and  famine.  Public  economy  and 
utilitv,  then,  no  less  than  humanity,  ple;ul  for  the  i)rotection  of 
the  feathered  race  ;  and  the  wanton  destruction  of  birds,  so 
useful,  beautiful,  and  amusing,  if  not  treated  as  such  by  law, 
ought  to  be  considered  as  a  crime  by  every  moral,  feeling,  and 
reflecting  mind. 


4 


^liii 


;ntial  for  the 
iuaclrui)ed  to 
o  the  general 
:  seals  swim, 
in  walk.  So 
some  others, 

the  Dippers, 
-wallows  and 
^'ing.  A  far 
qiuulrupeds, 
ix  kinds  fur- 
rds  with  this 
less  of  their 
their  bodies, 

progress  in 

m. 

ribes  which 

nd  instruct. 

the  harbin- 
my.     Their 
ude  to  the 
le  of  inani- 
d  harmony, 
d  luxury  of 
•asons,  they 
)us  produc- 
iubsistence, 
?cts.  which, 
i:ld  be  fol- 
anomy  and 
otection  of 
'f  birds,  so 
ch   by  law, 
2cling,  and 


ORNITHOLOCxY 


OK     lUK 


UNITED  STAIHS  AXI)  CANADA 


1^* 


1 


i 


I  1 


nff 


turki:y  vulture. 

TURKEY   BUZZARD. 

Cathartf.s  aura. 

Char.  Brownish  black;  head  bare  of  feathers  and  bright  red;  bill 
white  ;  length  about  2  feet. 

A'isf.     In  a  stuni]i,  or  cavitv  among  rocks,  without  additional  material. 

It:-::',  2:  white,  or  with  a  tinge  of  green  or  yellow,  spotted  with  brown 
and  i>urplc;  2.75  X  1.90. 

'fhis  common  Turkey-like  Vulture  is  found  abiuidantlv  in 
both  North  and  South  .America,  but  seems  wholly  to  avoid  the 
Northeastern  or  New  Kngland  States,  a  straijcjler  being  seldom 
seen  as  far  as  the  latitude  of  41°.  Whether  this  limit  arises 
from  some  local  antipathy,  their  dislike  of  the  cold  eastern 
storms  which  prevail  in  the  spring  till  the  time  they  usually 

V(  )L.   1.  I 


2  niRDS    UF    rkKV. 

breed,  or  some  other  cause,  it  is  not  easily  assignable  ;  and  the 
fact  is  still  more  remarkable,  as  they  have  been  observed  in  the 
iiikrior  by  Mr.  Say  as  far  as  Pembino.  in  the  49th  degree 
of  north  latitude,  by  Lewis  and  Clarke  near  the  Falls  of  the 
Oregon,  antl  they  are  not  unccjmmon  throughout  that  territory. 
'i'hey  are,  however,  much  more  abundant  in  the  warmer  than 
in  the  colder  regions,  and  are  found  beyond  the  ecjuator.  even 
as  far  or  farther  than  the  La  Plata,  All  the  West  India  islands 
are  inhabited  by  them,  as  well  as  the  tropical  continent,  where, 
:is  in  the  Southern  States  of  the  L'nion  they  are  connncjnly 
protected  for  their  services  as  scavengers  of  carrion,  which 
would  prove  highly  deleterious  in  those  warm  and  humid  cli- 
mates. In  the  winter  they  generally  seek  out  warmth  and 
shelter,  hovering  often  like  grim  and  boding  spectres  in  tiie 
sul)urbs,  and  on  the  root's  and  chimneys  of  the  houses,  around 
the  cities  of  the  Southern  States.  A  few  brave  the  winters  of 
ALaryland,  Delaware,  and  New  Jersey,  but  the  greai-  r  part 
migrate  south  at  the  apjjroach  of  cold  weather. 

The  Turkey  Buzzard  has  not  been  known  to  breed  north  of 
New  Jersey  in  any  of  the  .Atlantic  States.  Jlere  they  seek  out 
the  swampy  solitudes,  and,  without  forming  any  nest,  deposit 
two  eggs  in  the  stump  of  a  hollow  tree  or  log,  on  the  mere 
fragments  of  rotten  wood  with  which  it  is  ordinarilv  strewed. 
Occasionally,  in  the  Southern  States,  they  have  been  known  to 
make  choice  of  the  ruined  chimney  of  a  deserted  house  for 
this  purpose.  The  eggs  are  larger  than  those  of  a  Turkey,  of 
a  yellowish  white,  irregularly  blotched  with  dark  brown  and 
blackish  spots,  chietly  at  the  larger  end.  'J'he  male  ot"ten  at- 
tends while  the  female  is  sitting  ;  and  if  not  materially  dis- 
turbed, they  will  continue  t(j  occupy  the  same  place  for  several 
years  in  succession. 

The  yoimg  are  covered  with  a  whitish  down,  and,  in  common 
with  the  habit  of  the  old  birds,  will  often  eject,  ujjon  tiu^se  who 
happen  to  molest  them,  the  filthy  contents  of  their  stomachs. 

In  the  cities  of  the  South  they  appear  to  be  somewhat  grega- 
rious, and  as  if  aware  of  the  protection  afforded  them,  ])re- 
sent  themselves  often  in  the  streets,  and  particularly  near  the 


\m 


I 


TURKEY   VLLTL'RK. 


ble  ;  and  the 
iserved  in  the 

49th  degree 
:  Falls  of  the 
that  territory, 

warmer  than 
equator,  even 

India  islands 
tinent,  where, 
re  commonly 
irrion.  which 
lid  humid  cli- 

wannth  and 
lectres  in  the 
ouses,  around 
he  winters  of 

grea.ti  r   part 

reed  north  of 

they  seek  out 

nest,  dejiosit 

on  the  mere 

irily  strewed. 

en  known  to 

ed  house  for 

I  Turkey,  of 

brown   and 

lie  often  at- 

terially  dis- 

e  for  several 

in  common 
>ii  those  who 

stomachs. 

■what  Strega- 
them,  pre- 
irly  near  the 


shambles.  They  also  watch  the  emptying  of  the  scavengers' 
carts  in  the  suburbs,  where,  in  company  with  the  still  more 
domestic  Black  \'ultures,  they  search  out  their  favorite  morsels 
amidst  <lust,  filth,  and  rubbish  of  all  descriptions,  liits  of 
cheese,  of  meat,  fish,  or  anything  sufficiently  fuetid,  and  easy  of 
digestion,  is  greedily  sought  after,  and  eagerly  eyed.  When 
the  opportunity  offers  they  eat  with  gluttonous  voracity,  and 
fill  themselves  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  sometimes  iut  apa- 
ble  of  rising  from  the  ground.  They  are  accused  at  times 
of  attacking  young  pigs  and  lambs,  beginning  their  assault  by 
picking  out  the  eyes.  Mr.  Waterton.  ho\ve\er,  while  at  I  )em- 
erara  watched  them  for  hours  together  amidst  reptiles  of  all 
kiescrijjtions.  but  they  never  made  any  attack  u[)on  them.  He 
even  killed  li/ards  and  frogs  and  put  them  in  their  way,  but 
they  did  not  appear  to  notice  them  until  they  attained  the 
putrid  scent.  So  that  a  more  harmless  animal,  living  at  ail 
upon  flesh,   is   not   in  existence,  than  the  Turkey  \'ulture. 

At  night  they  roo^t  in  the  neighboring  trees,  but,  I  believe, 
seldom  in  tlocks  like  the  IMack  kind.  In  wintv.r  they  some- 
times jjass  the  night  in  numbers  on  the  roofs  of  the  houses  in 
the  suburbs  of  the  Southern  cities,  and  ajipear  particularly 
desirous  of  taking  advantage  of  the  warmth  which  they  dis- 
cover to  issue  from  the  chimneys.  Here,  when  the  sun  shines, 
they  and  their  black  relatives,  though  no  wise  social,  may  be 
observed  perched  in  these  conspicuous  places  basking  in  the 
feeble  rays,  and  stretching  (jut  their  dark  wings  to  admit  the 
warmth  directly  to  their  chilled  bodies.  And  when  not  en- 
gaged in  acts  of  necessity,  they  amuse  themselves  on  fine  clear 
days,  even  at  the  coolest  season  of  the  year,  by  soaring,  in 
companies,  slowly  and  majestically  into  the  higher  regions  of 
the  atmosphere  ;  rising  gently,  but  ra])idly,  in  vast  spiral  circles, 
they  sometimes  disappear  beyond  the  thinnest  clouds.  They 
practise  this  lofty  flight  partic  ularly  before  the  commencement 
of  thunder-storms,  when,  elevated  above  the  war  of  elements, 
they  float  at  ease  in  the  ethereal  space  with  outstretched  wings, 
making  no  other  apjiarent  effort  than  the  light  balloon,  only 
now  and  then  steadying  their  sailing  j>inions  as  they  spread 


4  BIRDS    OF   TRIiV. 

them  to  the  fonning  bree/.e,  and  become  abandoned  to  its 
accidental  sports.  In  South  America,  according  to  Humboldt, 
they  soar  even  in  company  with  the  C'ondor  in  his  highest 
flights,  rising  above  the  summits  of  the  tropical  Andes. 

Examples  of  this  species  still  wander  occiisionally  to  New  Kng- 
laiid  and  to  lirand  Menan,  and  in  1887  iSIr.  I'iiili])  Cox  reported 
the  capture  of  two  near  the  nioutii  of  the  Miramichi  River,  on  the 
Ciulf  ol  St.  Lawrence,  in  latitude  47^.  It  occurs  regularly  on  the 
St.  Clair  Flats,  in  Ontario. 

The  Vultures  are  not  classed  as  the  first  of  birds  by  the  syste- 
matists  Oi  the  present  day.  Now  the  singing-birds  —  the  Oschies  — 
ar:  considered  the  most  highly  developed,  and  of  these  the  Thrush 
family  is  given  highest  rank.  The  \'ultures  are  classed  as  tlie 
lowe.t  of  the  birds  of  prey  ;  and  this  entire  order  has  been  moved 
down  below  the  Swifts  and  the  Woodpeckers. 


i 


BL:\CK  vn;iT'RE. 

CARRION   CROW. 
CaIIIAKISIA    ArKAKA. 

Char.  Dull  bl.Tck ;  head  dusky  .iiid  partially  covered  above  with 
feathers.     Length  about  2  feet. 

i\ ■<■»/.  On  the  ground  screened  by  bushes,  or  in  a  stump.  (Xo  attempt 
is  made  to  build  a  nest  or  e\en  to  lav  a  cushion  for  the  eggs.) 

/•/^V*'-  '~3  (usually  2)  ;  bluish  white,  marked  with  several  shades  of 
brown  ;  3.10  x  -  05 

This  smaller,  black,  and  truly  gregarious  species  of  Vulture 
in  the  L'nitcd  States  ai)pears  to  be  generally  confined  to  the 
Southern  States,  and  seems  to  be  most  numerous  and  familiar 
in  the  large  maritime  towns  of  North  and  South  Carolina, 
(ieorgia,  and  Florida.  I'hey  are  aLiO  met  with  in  several  of 
the  Western  States,  and  as  far  u])  the  Ohio  as  Cincinnati.  In 
the  tropical  regions  of  America  they  are  also  very  common, 
and  extend  at  least  as  far  as  Chili.  Like  the  former  species, 
with  which  they  associate  oidy  at  meal-times,  they  are  tacitly 
allowed  a  pidilic  protection  for  the  service  they  render  in  rid- 
ding the  earth  of  carrion  and  other  kinds  of  filth.     They  are 


m 


151. AC K    NLl.lLKi:. 


5 


oncd   to   its 
I  Muniboldt, 
his   highest 
des. 

o  New  Kng 
Jox  rcpoitctl 
Liver,  on  the 
ulariy  on  the 

by  the  syste- 
le  Osc/iies  — 
;  the  Thrush 
.ssed  as  the 
been  moved 


1   above    witli 

(Xo  attempt 

) 

U  shades  of 

of  Vulture 
ned  to  the 
nd  familiar 
1   Carolina, 

several  of 

uinati.      Ill 

y  common, 

er  species, 

are   tacitly 

der  in  rid- 

'I'hey  are 


much  more  familiar  in  the  towns  than  the  ])rcceding,  delight- 
mg,  durmg  wint  r,  to  remain  on  the  roofs  of  houses,  catching 
the  feeble  rays  of  the  sim,  and  stretching  out  their  wings  to  ad- 
mit the  warm  air  over  their  fuetid  bodies.  When  the  weather 
bec(mies  unusually  chilly,  or  in  the  mornings,  they  may  be 
seen  basking  upon  the  chimneys  in  the  warm  snujke,  which, 
as  well  as  the  soot  itself,  can  add  no  additional  darkness  or 
impurity  to  sik  h  filtli\'  ami  melancholy  spectres.  Here,  or  on 
the  limbs  of  some  of  th.e  larger  trees,  they  remain  in  listless 
indolence  till  arou>ed    by  the  calls  of  hunger. 

Their  flight  is  neither  so  easy  nor  so  gracefid  as  that  of  the 
Turkey  IJu/./ard.  'I'hey  flap  their  wings  and  then  soar  hori- 
zontally, renewing  the  motion  of  their  pinions  at  short  inter- 
vals. At  times,  however,  they  rise  to  considerable  elevations. 
In  the  cities  of  Charleston  anil  Savannah  they  are  to  be  seen  in 
numbers  walking  the  streets  with  all  the  fimiliarity  of  domestic 
Fowls,  examining  the  channels  and  acciunulations  of  filth  in 
order  to  glean  up  the  offal  or  animal  matter  of  anv  kind 
which  may  happen  to  be  thrown  out.  They  appeared  to  be 
Very  regular  in  their  attendance  around  the  shanil)les.  and 
some  of  them  become  known  by  sight.  'I'his  was  particularly 
the  case  with  an  old  veteran  wIkj  hop])ed  ujion  one  toot 
(having  by  some  accident  lost  the  other),  and  had  regularly 
apjjcared  round  the  shambles  to  claim  the  bounty  of  the 
butchers  for  about  twenty  years.  In  the  country,  where  I  have 
surprised  them  feeding  in  the  woods,  they  ap])eared  rather  shy 
and  timorous,  watching  my  movements  alertly  like  Hawks  ; 
and  every  now  and  then  one  or  two  of  them,  as  thcv  sat  in 
the  high  boughs  of  a  neighboring  oak,  communicated  to  the 
rest,  as  I  slowly  approached,  a  low  bark  of  alarm,  or  2oai/i^/i, 
something  like  the  suppressed  growl  of  a  pujipy,  at  which  the 
whole  flock  by  degrees  deserted  the  dead  hog  ujjon  which 
they  happened  to  be  feeding.  Sometimes  they  will  collect 
together  about  one  carcase  to  the  number  of  two  hundre(l 
and  upwards:  and  the  object,  whatever  it  may  be,  is  soon 
robed  in  living  mourning,  scarcely  anything  being  visible  but 
a  dense  mass  of  these   sable   scavengers,   who   may  often   be 


S 


6 


BIRDS    OF   I'RKV 


:,ccn  jealously  conlending  with  each  other,  both  in  and  c)iit  (jf 
the  carcase,  defiled  with  l)lood  and  filth,  holdinjf  on  witli  their 
feet,  hissing  and  clawing  each  other,  or  tearing  off  morsels  so 
as  to  fill  their  throats  nearly  to  choking,  and  occasionally 
joined  l)y  growling  dogs,  —  the  whole  presenting  one  of  the 
most  savage  and  disgusting  scenes  in  nature,  and  truly  worthy 
the  infernal  bird  of  Prometheus. 

This  species  is  very  rarely  .seen  north  of  the  Carolinas,  though 
a  few  examples  have  been  taken  in  New  England  and  at  Grand 
Me  nan. 


AIDUHON'S    CARACARA. 

CARACARA    KAtil.E.      KI.\<.    1!LZ/ARIJ. 
FoiAlloRrs    I'lll.KIWAV. 

f'UAR.  Gencr.il  color  brownish  black;  fore  part  of  hack  aiul  breast 
liarrcd  with  white  ;   tail  white,  witii  bars  of  l)lack.    Length  20.\  to  25  inches. 

AVs/.     On  a  low  tree  or  bush  ;  made  of  sticks  and  leaves. 

/■'^TA'f-  --4  (iisuallv  2)  :  brownish  white  or  pale  l)rown,  bhjtched  with 
deeper  l^rown  ;   2.30  X  1.75. 

This  very  remarkable  and  fine  bird  was  first  nut  with  by  Mr. 
.\udtd)on  near  St.  .Xugustine,  in  East  Moricki.  He  afterwards 
also  found  it  on  Cialveston  Island,  in  Texas.  P'rom  its  general 
habits  and  graceful,  swee])ing  flight,  it  was  for  some  time  mis- 
taken for  a  Hawk.  Though  common  in  many  |)arts  of  .South 
America,  it  is  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States  merely  an 
accidental  visitor.  It  is  said,  liowever,  to  l)reed  in  Florida,  in 
the  highest  branches  of  tall  trees  in  the  pine-barrens,  making 
a  rough  nest  of  sticks  like  a  Hawk.  In  Texas  it  breefls,  accord- 
ing to  Audubon,  in  the  tops  of  bushe.;. 

Since  Niittall  wrote,  the  Caracara  has  been  found  in  niuiibers 
in  parts  of  Florida,  and  it  is  not  uncommon  in  Texas,  southern 
Arizona,  and   Lower  California. 


and  out  of 
I  with  their 
morsels  s(j 
fcasionally 
une  of  tlic 
-Illy  worthy 

nas,  tliougli 
d  at  Graml 


1;  aiul  brenst 
,  to  25  inches. 

)lotclied  with 


ith  by  Mr. 
afterwards 
its  general 
time  niis- 
s  of  South 
merely  an 
I'lorida.  in 
us,  uKikintf 
Is,  accord- 


iii   iiumlnTs 
.,  southerr. 


WHITE   GYRFALCON. 

FaI.CO    ISIvWDUS. 

Char.  Prevailing  coh^r  white,  often  immaculate,  but  usuallv  with 
dark  maikings.  Legs  partially  feathered.  A  sharp  tooth  near  point  of 
up])er  mandible  ;  the  end  of  under  mandil)le  notched.  Length  21  to  24 
inches. 

AVj-/.     Usually  on  a  cliff  ;  roughly  made  of  sticks,  —  large  drv  twigs. 

^vv'-''-  3-4;  l^"lf  or  brownisli,  marked  with  reddish  brown;  2.25 
X  1.25.  

GRAY   GYRFALCON. 

F.xr.co  RusTicoi.us. 

Thap.  Prevailing  color  dull  gray,  with  whitish  and  slaty-blue  bands 
and  .'-iKjts;  sometimes  white  prevails  ;  thighs  usuallv  barred. 


8 


BIRDS   OF   I'KEY. 


GYRFAL     )N. 

FaLCO    RUSl'ICOI-L.-.    ..YRFALCO. 

Char.  Upper  parts  dull  brownish  (dusky),  with  bars  of  bluish  gray; 
lower  parts  wiiitc,  or  mostly  white  marked  with  dusky  ;  thighs  heavily 
barred. 


I    -1 


BLACK   CrYRFALCON. 

Fai.co    KLSTICOLUS   0I!S(JLI;IUS. 

Char.     Prevailing  color  brownish  black;  usually  barred  with  lighter 
tints,  but  sometimes  the  bars  are  indistinct. 

This  elegant  and  celebrated  Falcon  is  about  two  feet  in 
length  ;  the  female  two  or  three  inches  longer.  'I'hey  particu- 
larly abound  in  Iceland,  and  are  found  also  throughout  Siberia, 
and  the  North  of  Europe  as  far  as  Greenland;  Mr.  Hutchins, 
according  to  Pennant,  saw  them  commonly  about  Fort  Albany, 
at  Hudson's  Bay.  Occasionally  a  ])air  is  also  seen  in  this 
vicinity  in  the  depth  of  winter.  They  brave  the  coldest  cli- 
mates, for  which  they  have  such  a  jjredilectlon  as  seldom  to 
leave  the  Arctic  regions  ;  the  younger  birds  are  commonly  seen 
in  the  North  of  Ciermany,  but  very  rarely  the  old,  which  are 
readily  distinguished  by  the  superior  whiteness  of  their  plumage, 
which  augments  with  age,  and  by  the  increasing  narrowness 
of  the  transverse  stripes  that  ornament  the  upper  ]xirts  of  the 
body,  'J'he  finest  of  these  Falcons  were  caugh.t  in  Iceland  by 
means  of  baited  nets.  The  bait  was  commonly  a  Ptarmigan, 
Pigeon,  or  common  Fowl ;  and  such  was  the  velocity  and 
power  of  his  potmce  that  he  commonly  severed  the  head 
from  the  baited  bird  as  nicely  as  if  it  had  been  done  by  a 
razor.  These  birds  were  reserved  for  the  kings  of  Denmark, 
and  from  thence  they  were  formerly  transported  into  Ger- 
many, and  even  Turkey  and  Persia.  The  taste  for  the  amuse- 
ment of  falconry  was  once  very  prevalent  throughout  Europe, 
and  continued  for  several  centuries  ;  but  at  this  time  it  has 
almost  wholly  subsided.  The  Tartars,  and  Asiatics  gener- 
ally, were   also  ccpially  addicted   to   this  amusement.     A  Sir 


V 


)i 


DUCK   HAWK. 


iliiish  gray; 
glis  heavily 


rtith  lighter 

vo  feet  in 
y  particu" 

lit  Siberia, 
Hutciiins, 
rl  Albany, 
tn  in  this 
oldest  cli- 
seldom  to 
lonly  seen 
which  are 
'  plumage, 
i.urowness 
irts  of  the 
celanil  by 
't;irmigan, 
ocity   and 

tlu-  head 
one  by  a 

)enmark, 
into  (ler- 
le  a  muse - 
t  luirope, 
ne  it  has 
cs  gener- 
it.     A  Sir 


Thomas  Monson,  no  later  than  the  reign  of  James  the   First, 
is  said  to  have  given  a  thousand  jtounds  for  a  cast  of  Hawks. 

Next  to  the  Ivigle,  this  bird  is  the  most  formitlable,  active, 
and  intrepid,  and  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  for  falconry. 
It  boldly  attacks  the  largest  of  birds  ;  tne  Swan,  (loose,  Stork, 
Heron,  and  Crane  are  to  it  easy  victims.  In  its  native  regions 
it  lives  much  on  the  hare  and  Ptarmigan  ;  upon  these  it  darts 
with  astonishing  velocity,  and  often  seizes  its  prey  by  pouncing 
upon  it  almost  ])erpendicularly.  It  breeds  in  the  cold  and 
desert  regions  where  it  usually  dwells,  fixing  its  nests  amidst 
the  most  lofty  anil  inaccessible  rocks. 

Nuttall  treated  llic  four  forms  as  one,  while  I  follow  the  A.  O.  U. 
in  separating  them  :  though  I  do  not  think  that  tlie  present  classifi- 
cation will  be  retained.  The  accessible  material  is  very  limited, 
but  it  appears  to  indicate  that  there  is  hut  one  species  with  two, 
or  possibly  three,  geographical  races.  The  nests  and  eii^js  and 
the  habits  are  similar,  the  difference  being  entirely  thai  ol  plu- 
mage, —  the  prevalence  of  the  dark  or  white  color. 

The  White  breeds  chiefly  in  North  Cireeiiland  and  alon;;  the  bor- 
ders of  the  Arctic  Ocean  :  tlie  Clrav  breeds  in  South  Greenland  :  the 
Black  is  restricted  to  Labrador;  and  the  liabitat  of  _i^r^<?/^<' isgiven 
as  "interior  of  Arctic  America  from  fhidson  s  ISay  to  Alaska." 
Specimens  of  all  four  have  been  taken  soutli  of  latitude  45°.  and 
a  few  of  the  Black  have  been  taken,  in  winter,  as  far  .south  as 
southern  New  England  and  Xew  N'ork. 


Note.  —  A  few  examples  of  the  Pkaikik  Falcon  (Fiilco  iiiexi- 
canns)  have  accidentally  wandered  to  the  prairie  districts  of 
Illinois. 


dit:k  ha\\k. 

PEREGRIXE   FALCON.    GREAT- FOOTED   HAWK. 

FaLCO    PERKGRINUS    ANA'ITM. 

Char.  Above,  bluish  ash  or  brownish  black,  the  edges  of  the  feathers 
paler;  below,  ashy  or  dull  tawny,  with  bars  or  streaks  of  brownish;  a 
black  patch  on  the  checks,  bill  of  bluish  color,  and  toothed  and  notched, 
as  in  all  true  Falcons;  cere  yellow.  Wing  long,  thin,  and  pointed 
Length  17  to   19  inches. 


«l 


lO 


I5IUUS  OK  i'ki:v. 


.W.fA  On  tree  or  cliff;  a  loosely  arranged  platform  of  dry  sticks, 
sometimes  j)  irtially  lined  with  gra^s,  leaves,  or  mo>s. 

/•.',.,'■  --4;  rt'ldisii  i)rown  —  sometimes  of  brigiu  tint  — marked  with 
dull  red  and  rich  brown  ;  j.io  x  i.oo. 

'ihc  cclcbratnl,  powerful,  and  princfly  Kalcon  is  conimoij 
l)(jth  to  the  continent  of  10uroi)e  and  America.  In  the  former 
they  are  chielly  found  in  moiuitainoiis  regions,  and  make  tiuir 
nests  in  the  most  inaccessible  clefts  of  rocks,  and  very  rarely 
in  trees,  layinj;  3  or  4  e^gs  of  a  reddish-yellow,  with  brown 
sl)()ts.  In  I'.urope  they  seldom  descend  to  the  plains,  and 
avoid  marshy  countries.  The  period  of  incubation  lasts  but 
a  short  time,  and  commences  in  winter,  or  very  early  in  the 
spring',  so  that  the  young  accjuire  their  full  growth  by  the 
middle  of  May.  They  are  sujjposed  to  breed  in  the  tall  trees 
of  the  des(;late  cedar  swamps  in  New  Jersey.  Audubon,  how- 
ever, tound  them  nesting  on  shelving  ro«  ks  on  the  sh(jres  of 
Labrador  and  Newfoundland,  laying  from  2  to  5  eggs  of  a 
rusty  yellowish  ])rf)wn.  spotted  and  blotched  with  darker  tints 
of  the  same  color.  They  also  breed  on  shelving  rocks  in  the 
Kocky  Mountains,  where  Mr.  Townsend  obtaineil  a  s])ecimen 
on  }>ig  Sandy  River  of  tlie  ('(jlorado  of  the  West  in  the  month 
of  July.  \\'hen  the  young  have  attained  their  growth,  the 
parents  drive  them  from  their  haunts,  with  incessant  and 
piercing  screams  and  complaints,  —  an  unnatural  proi)ensity 
which  nothing  but  dire  necessity,  the  difficulty  of  accpiiring 
sustenance,  can  ])alliate. 

In  strength  and  temerity  the  Falcon  is  not  exceeded  by 
any  bird  of  its  si/e.  He  soars  with  easy  and  graceful  motions 
amidst  the  clouds  or  clear  azure  of  the  sky  :  from  this  lotly 
elevation  he  selects  his  victim  from  among  the  larger  birds,  — 
(irouse,  Pheasants,  I'igeons,  Ducks,  or  (ieese.  ^\'ithout  being 
])erceivetl,  he  swiftly  descends,  as  if  falling  from  the  clouds  in 
a  ])eriiendicular  line,  and  carries  terror  and  destruction  into 
the  timid  ranks  of  his  i)rey.  Instead  of  flying  before  their 
relentless  enemy,  the  Partridge  and  Pheasant  rim  and  closely 
hide  in  the  grass,  the  Pigeons  glance  aside  to  avoid  the  fatal 
blow  which  is  but  too  sure  in  its  aim.  and  the  Water  Fowls  seek 


i 


i      I 


riGEoN    HAWK. 


1 1 


if  dry  sticks 
marked  wilii 


IS  cominoi 
the  foriiur 
make  tluir 
very  rarely 
A'ith  brown 
|)lains,  and 
n  lasts  but 
arly  in  tlie 
vth  by  the 
e  tall  trees 
iibon,  h(;\v- 
;  shores  of 

eggs  of  a 
larker  tints 
^cks  in  the 
L  specimen 
the  month 
rowth.  the 
.'ssant  and 
propensity 

ac(iuiring 

ceeded  by 
111  motions 

this  lofty 
r  birds,  — 
lout  being 

clouds  in 
ction  into 
.'fore  their 
nd  closely 
1   the  fatal 

owls  seek 


' 


a  more  'ertain  refuge  in  <living  beneath  their  yielding  element. 
If  the  prey  be  nut  too  large,  the  Kah  on  mounts  into  the  air. 
bearing  it  off  in  his  talons,  and  then  alights  to  gorge  himself 
with  hiN  booty  .it  leisure.  Sometimes  he  attacks  the  Kite, 
anotht  .-^  fellow- 1 ilunderer,  either  in  wanton  insult,  or  more 
probably  to   rob  him  of  his  quarry. 

The  I'eregrinc  is  ver\-  generally  distril)utcd  throughout  .Amcrii  i. 
hut  exct]>ting  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  Laljrador.  and  |)os>i!)ly  on 
Newfoundland,  it  is  nowiicrc  conuuon  in  this  f.iuiial  province.  It 
is  a  winter  visitor  chictly  in  Ohio  and  southern  Ontario.  !)ut  it  is 
known  to  breed  on  isolated  cliffs  in  the  Maritime  Provinces  and  the 
New  Knirlanfl  States,  and  it  is  said  that  nests  liavu  been  founrl  in 
Pennsylvania  and  Maryland.  The  report  of  its  building  in  a  swamp 
in  New  jersey  has  not  been  confirmed. 


PIGEON    HAWK. 

F.\I.CO    COIlMnARIlS. 

Char.  Gcnerallv  the  prcv.iiling  color,  above,  is  blackish  brown,  thoiiuh 
tlic  olticr  l)ird>  assiunc  a  dull  tint  .npproaching  hliiisii  grav ;  win^s,  back, 
•and  tail  streaked  and  barred  with  btiffy  or  reddish  brown.  Tail  tipped  with 
white  ;  the  middle  tail-feathers  in  nuile  with  four  bands  of  blackish,  and 
in  female  .about  six  pale  bands.  r>clow.  dull,  pale  reddish  brown,  lighter 
on  breast  and  throat.     Length  li  to  13  inches. 

.W.r/.  Usually  on  branches  of  trees,  though  found  sometimes  in  cavi- 
ties of  dead  trees  and  on  cliffs  ;  loosely  built  of  twigs,  and  lined  with  grass 
and  leaves. 

E<r^s.  3-6:  bnffv  or  pale  reddish-brown  ground  color,  blotched  with 
dull  red  and  brown  ;   f  .30  x  1.55. 

This  species  is  a  little  larger  than  the  following,  but  by  no 
means  so  abundant  :  though  met  wnth  in  latitude  forty- eight 
degrees  by  Long's  Xorthwe.stern  Expedition,  and  occasion- 
ally extending  its  migrations  from  Texas  to  Hiulson's  Bay,  and 
rearing  its  young  in  the  interior  of  Canada.  Its  nest  was  also 
observed  by  Audubon  in  Labrador  in  the  low  fir-trees,  and  con- 
tained five  eggs,  laid  about  the  ist  of  June.  It  is  shy,  skulk- 
mg,  and  watchful,  seldom  venturing  beyond  the  unreclaimed 
forest,  and  llies  rapidly,  but,  1  believe,  seldom  soars  or  hovers. 


12 


BIRDS   OF    PREV, 


Small  birds  ami  mice  constitute  its  [)rincipal  food  ;  and  ac- 
cording to  Wilson,  it  follows  often  in  the  rear  of  the  gregarious 
birds,  such  as  the  Blackbirds  and  Reedbirds,  as  well  as  after 
the  Hitting  tlocks  of  IMgeons  and  Robins,  picking  up  the  strag- 
glers, the  weak  and  unguarded,  as  its  legiinnate  prey.  Some- 
times, when  shot  at  without  effect,  it  will  lly  in  circles  around 
the  gunner  and  utter  impatient  shrieks,  —  probably  in  appre- 
hension for  the  safety  of  the  mate,  or  to  communicate  a  cry 
of  alarm. 

The  I'igcon  Ffawk  is  a  common  migrant  tlirougli  Xcw  Kngland, 
Ohio,  and  southern  Ontario.  It  is  always  late  in  migrating,  and  a 
few  examples  have  been  seen  in  Massaclui.setts  in  midwinter.  It 
breeds  sparingly  in  the  northern  portions  of  New  England,  and  the 
-Maritime  Provinces  of  Canada.  Its  breeding  area  extends  north 
to  the  lower  fur  countries,  and  in  winter  it  ranges  to  the  Southern 
States  and  South  America. 


NoTF.  —  One  example  of  the  European  Merlin  {Falca  regains) 
has  been  captured  off  the  coast  of  Greei   and. 


{Im| 


I 


;    and  ac- 

gregarious 
■II  as  after 

the  strag- 
/.  Some- 
es  arouinl 

in  ai)pre- 
:ate  a  cry 


,v  Lngland, 
ting,  and  a 
winter.  It 
nil.  and  tiie 
ends  north 
e  Soutliern 


'cfl  regit  Ills) 


f 


AMF.RKWN    SPARROW    HAWK. 

Faho  si'AR\i:Kirs. 

Char.  Adult  male  :  licad  biui-~h  ash.  with  reddish  patch  on  crown,  and 
l)l.ick  p.it(  h  on  .sides  and  nape:  !):Kk  infoiis;  wings  bluish  and  black  in 
bars  ;  tail  tawny,  with  black  band,  and  tipped  with  white  ;  below,  huffish  or 
tawny.  Ktmalc  :  rufuus  barred  with  black;  uiulcri)arts  buffv  streaked 
with  tawny  ;  tail  tawny,  with  blacki-li  I  ars.     length  lo  inches. 

A'cst.  I  >u.illy  in  cavities  of  trees,  often  in  Woodpecker's  holes,  some- 
times in  deserted  nest  of  a  ("row. 

'£!i,'X'-f  5-7  "•  buttish,  occasionally  white,  blotchcil  with  dull  red  and 
brown;  1.33  X  i-i^- 

This  beautiful  and  singularly  marked  bird  appears  to  reside 
principally  in  the  warmer  parts  of  the  I'nited  States.  'I'hev  are 
particularly  abundant  in  the  winter  throughout  South  Carolina, 
(ieorgia.  Alabama,  and  Morida.  whither  they  assemble  from 
the  remote  interior  of  the  Northern  States,  wandering  in  sum- 
mer as  far  as  the  Rocky  Moimtains,  and  were  even  seen  by 
Dr.  Richardson  in  the  remote  latitude  of  5  V^  :  these  appear, 
ho\vi\er,  to  be  onl\-  stntggleis,  nor  do  they  seem  at  all  to  visit 


14 


BIRDS  ui-   rki.v. 


thf  mnritime  districts  o(  New  l-"nglantl.  As  they  were  seen  in 
St.  I  )()iniiii,'(),  !)>•  \'cillot,  abumlantly  in  April  and  May,  the 
brcL-ding-scason,  \vc  may  naturally  conclude  that  thii  species 
has  a  much  greater  predilection  tor  the  warm  than  t'  e  cold 
(li mates.  On  the  south  side  of  the  ecjuator.  even  in  (  avenue 
and  i'araguay,  they  arc  still  found,  in  all  (jf  which  countries 
llicv   prol)alily   breed. 

A( cording  to  the  hahit.i  of  this  tribe  of  rapacii^us  birds 
it  appears  that  the  nest  is  built  in  a  hollow,  shattered,  or 
decayed  tree  at  a  considerable  elevation. 

Its  motions  appear  somewhat  capricious  ;  it  occasionally 
hovers  with  beating  wings,  re( onncjitring  for  Jtrey.  and  soon 
imjjatiently  darts  off  to  a  di>tan<  e  to  renew  »h,e  same  ma- 
n(euvre.  In  the  winter,  however,  it  is  most  conuiionly  seen 
])erched  on  some  dead  branch.  »jr  on  a  pole  (jr  stalk  in  the 
fulds.  often  at  a  little  distance  from  the  ground.  kee|)iiig  u])  a 
tree  juent  jerking  of  the  tail,  and  attentively  watching  lor  -lome 
siK  h  hum])le  game  as  mice,  grasshopjjers,  or  li/anK.  \i  this 
lime  it  is  likewise  so  familiar  as  to  enter  the  garilen.  orchard, 
or  premises  near  to  the  hou^e,  and  shows  l)Ut  little  alarm  on 
being  ai)proached.  It  is,  however,  by  no  means  deficient  in 
< ourage,  and,  like  the  larger  Fahons.  (jften  makes  a  fatal  and 
rapid  swiep  upon  Sparrows  or  those  small  birds  which  are  its 
accustomed  prey. 

Insti'ad  (if  hiing  a  nuTc  >iragnie>  r>u'.sirle  t'le  warnu'i  pornoii^  'li 
till'  r>iitc(l  Stall's,  as  Xuttali  .■'.:';''car>  to  have  (•(insi(h'i\'i!  this  Kal- 
cou.  it  is  (|ui;e  eommou  throughout  most  of  the  continent,  and  not 
onlv  breeds  in  New  Hngland.  but  occasiouallv  wintcr.s  there.  It 
breeds  aLsu  throughout  Lanada.  north  to  the  lower  iur  countries, 
and  during  the  cold  wcath.cr  rang'.-s  from  New  Jersey  to  the 
Soutiiern  .States. 

Note.  —  'I'he  Cuha.v  Sp.\kko\v  \\.\\\k  {/'uho  thuniniiensis) 
has  been  found  in  Fltjrida  ;  and  two  exainjilcs  ol  the  Ki;stki:l 
(/•'iiAo  tiiinuiuitlus)  have  been  captured  on  this  side  of  the 
.Atlantic,  —one  off  liie  coast  ol  Greenland,  and  the  ulliet  at  Nan- 
tasket,  Mass  ,  in  1.S.S7. 


i^il 


L-  >c(.'n  111 
May,  the 
ii  sjieciis 
the  cold 
( 'a\  (.'niiL' 
countries 

ous  l)ir(ls 
LtLTe<l,  or 

(.asionally 
aivl  soon 
iiinu'  liia- 
only  seon 
ilk  in  the 
[nwji  11] »  A 

tor  -lonie 

.      Al  this 

.  on  hard, 

alarm  on 

fficient  in 

fatal  and 
ich  are  its 


,!  tliis  Fai- 
nt, and  not 
there.  It 
•  countries, 
se\-   to   the 


//l/i/if/lS/S) 
■    Ki:STKKL 

dc    of    the 
\ci  at  Nan- 


i 


GOLDEN    KAC'JJ:. 

:\<jrii.\  (•iii<\s.\i;iiis. 

^HAR.  Dark  brown,  head  and  neck  tawiiv  brown  ;  logs  feathered  to 
tiie  toes;  in  the  young,  tail  whitish,  with  broad  terminal  band  of  black. 

.\'< ./.  On  a  tree,  sometimes  on  a  higli  ( liff ;  loosclv  built  of  drv  sticks, 
lined  with  twigs,  grass,  moss,  leaves,  .uul  fe.ithers. 

/^X^CJ.  2-;,  (usually  2);  dull  white  or  pale  buff  >pottcd  and  blotched 
more  or  less  tlnckly  with  rt'iklish  brown  and  i.ucntkr;  3.00  X  2.30. 

This  ancient  monarch  of  the  birds  is  found  in  all  the  cold 
and  tt.'m])erate  rc-^ions  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  taking  tii' 
his  abotle  by  choice  in  the  ureat  forests  and  ])lains.  and  in  wiki, 
desert,  and  mountainous  regions.  His  eyry,  commonlv  formed 
of  an  e.\tensi\c  set  of  la\ers  of  large  sticks,  is  nearly  horizontal, 
and  occasionally  extended  between  some   ro(  k  and  adioining 


J 


i6 


IJIRDS    (Jl-    TRKV. 


tree,  as  was  the  one  described  by  \\'illuii;hby  in  the  Peak  of 
Derbyshire.  About  thirty  miles  inland  from  the  Mandan  I'ort 
on  the  Missouri  I  once  had  occasion  to  obserye  tiie  eyr\'  of 
this  noble  bird,  which  here  consisted  of  but  a  slender  lining  of 
sticks  conyeyed  into  a  rocky  chasm  on  the  face  of  a  lofty  hill 
rising  out  of  the  grassy,  open  plain.  It  contained  one  young 
bird,  nearly  fledged,  and  almost  of  the  color  of  the  (lyrfalcon. 
Near  their  rocky  nests  they  are  seen  usually  in  pairs,  at  times 
majestically  soaring  to  a  yast  height  and  gazing  on  the  sun, 
towards  which  they  ascend  until  they  disapjjear  from  yiew. 
From  this  sublime  eleyation  they  often  select  their  deyoted 
])re\ .  —  sometimes  a  kid  or  a  Jamb  from  the  sporting  llock,  or 
the  timid  rabbit  or  hare  crouched  in  the  furrow  or  sheltered  in 
some  bush.  'l"he  largest  birds  are  also  frecpiently  their  yictims  ; 
and  in  extreme  want  they  will  not  refuse  to  join  with  the 
alaruK-d  Vulture  in  his  cadayerous  rejjast.  .\fter  this  gorging 
meal  the  Kagle  can,  if  necessary,  fast  for  seyeral  days.  The 
pre<  arious  nature  of  his  subsistence  and  the  yiolence  by  which 
ii  !>  constantly  obtained  seem  to  produce  a  moral  effect  on 
the  disposition  of  this  rapacious  bird  :  though  in  jxairs,  they  are 
ne\er  seen  associated  with  their  young;  their  offs{)ring  are 
driyen  forth  to  lead  the  same  unsocial,  wandering  life  as  their 
unfeeling  i)rogenitors.  This  harsh  and  tyrannical  dis])ositi()n  is 
strongly  dis[)l.iyed  eyen  when  they  lead  a  life  of  restraint  and 
confinement.  The  weaker  bird  is  neyer  willingly  suffered  to 
eat  a  smgle  morsel;  and  though  he  may  cower  and  (juail  under 
the  blow  with  the  most  abject  submission,  the  sami'  sayage 
de]')ortment  continues  towards  him  as  long  as  he  exists.  Those 
which  I  haye  seen  in  confinement  frecjuently  uttered  hoarse 
and  stridulous  cries,  sometimes  almost  barkings,  accom])anied 
by  ya])orous  breathings,  strongly  expressiye  of  their  ardent, 
untiuenchable,  and  sayage  appetites.  Their  fire-darting  eyes, 
lowering  brows,  flat  foreheads,  restless  disj^osition,  and  terrific 
plaints,  together  with  dieir  powerful  natural  weajjons,  seem  to 
assimilate  them  to  the  tiger  rather  than  the  timorous  bird.  \'et 
it  would  aj^pear  that  they  may  be  rendered  docile,  as  the  Tar- 
tars   (accortling   to   Marco   I'olo  in    1269)    were  said  to   train 


I 


Liui.oEN  i:a(.li:. 


17 


this  s])c'tifs  to  the  chase  of  liares,  foxes,  wolves,  antelopes,  and 
oihcr  kinds  of  larj^e  ,sj;anu'.  in  whicli  it  displayed  all  the  dcx  ility 
tWthe  l-'al(on.  The  lonLievity  of  the  Magle  is  as  remarkable  as 
it>  stren^'th  :  it  is  believed  to  snbsist  for  a  century,  and  is  about 
three  years  in  gaining  its  complete  growth  and  I'lxed  plumage. 
This  bird  was  held  in  high  estimation  by  the  ancients  on  ac- 
(  ount  of  its  extrac^rdinary  magnitude,  courage,  and  sanguinary 
habits.  The  Romans  chose  it  as  an  emblem  for  their  imperial 
standard  ;  and  from  itr>  abjuring  llight  and  majestic  soaring  it 
was  fabled  h)  hold  communication  with  hea\en  and  U)  be  the 
favorite  messenger  of  lox'e.  The  Tartars  ha\e  a  particular 
esteem  for  the  feathers  of  the  tail,  with  whii  h  they  supersti- 
tiously  tiiink  to  plume  invincible  arrows.  It  is  no  less  the 
\enerated  War-Iuto/r  of  our  Northern  and  Western  aborigines; 
and  the  caudal  feathers  are  extremely  valued  for  talismanic 
head-dresses  and  as  sacred  decorations  for  the  Pipe  of  Peace. 

The  llagle  ai)pears  to  be  more  abundant  arouml  Huds(jn's 
liay  than  in  the  I'nited  States  :  but  tiuv  are  not  unfrecpient  in 
the  great  ]>lains  of  the  Mississi])i)i  and  Missouri,  as  appears 
from  the  fri(|uent  um'  of  the  feathers  b\'  the  natives.  "l"he 
wilderness  seems  their  fivorite  resort,  and  they  neither  crave 
nor  obtain  any  advantage  from  the  society  of  man.  Attached 
to  the  mountains  in  which  tlu'\-  are  bred,  it  is  a  rare  occurrence 
to  see  the  llagle  in  this  vi(  iiiit\"  :  and.  as  with  some  other  birds, 
it  would  appear  that  the  xoung  onK'  are  found  in  the  United 
Stall's,  while  tin-  old  remain  in  Labrador  and  the  northern 
reg!on^.  The  l()fi\-  mountains  of  New  I  Iamp>hire  affijnl  suit- 
able situations  tor  the  eyry  of  the  l'",agle,  o\'er  whose  snow-clad 
summits  he  is  seen  majesticalb'  soaring  in  solitude  and  gran- 
deur. A  young  bird  from  this  region,  whii  h  I  have  seen  in  a 
state  of  <lomestication,  showed  considerable  docility,  lie  had, 
howe\er,  been  brought  up  from  the  nest,  in  which  he  was  found 
in  the  month  of  August  :  he  aj^peared  even  playful,  turning  his 
head  about  in  a  \t'rv  antic  manner,  as  if  desirous  to  attract 
attention,  —  still,  his  glance  was  (|uick  and  fiery.  W'lu'n  birds 
were  giwn  to  him,  he  plumed  them  \ery  clean  before  he  began 
his  meal,  and  picked  the  siibje<"t  \o  a  i)erfect  skeleton. 
Vol..    I.  —  2 


I8 


BIRDS  OF  l'kl;^• 


The  ferocious  and  sav;ii;o  nature  ut"  {hv  Magle,  in  aii  unre- 
clainu'd  state,  is  sometimes  displayed  in  a  remarkable  manner. 
A  peasant  attempted  to  rob  an  eyry  of  this  bird  situ.it.  >  at  the 
Lake  of  Kiil.inu'}-  :  for  this  purpose  he  stripped  and  ^uam  o\er 
to  the  spot  in  the  absence  of  the  old  birds  ;  but  on  hi->  return, 
while  yet  up  to  the  chin  in  water,  the  parents  arrived,  and 
mis^ini,'  their  ycjung,  instantly  fell  on  the  unfortmiate  i)hnider(,r 
and  killed  him  on  the  sjiot. 

There  are  se\'eral  well-authenticated  instances  of  their  carry- 
ini;  olf  children  to  tlnar  nests.  In  17.^7,  in  the  parish  of 
\orderhout,fs,  in  .\orwa\-,  a  bo\'  o\'er  two  \t;us  old,  on  h\>  way 
from  the  « oitaL^^e  to  his  parents,  at  work  in  the  fields  at  no  j,Meat 
distance,  fell  into  the  pounce  of  an  l-".agle,  who  Hew  otT  with 
the  (  hild  in  their  siij;ht.  and  was  seen  no  more.  .Xnderson.  in 
his  history  of  Ice'land,  sa\s  that  in  that  inland  children  of  four 
or  five  \ears  of  ai^e  have  occasionallv  been  borne  away  i)y 
Kagles  ;  and  Ray  relates  that  in  one  of  the  Orkneys  a  child  of 
a  year  old  was  seized  in  the  talons  of  this  ferocious  bird  and 
carried  about  four  miles  to  its  nest,  but  the  mother,  knowing 
the  place  of  the  eyry,  followed  the  l)ird,  and  recovered  her  ciiild 
yet  unhurt. 

The  Common,  or  Ring-tailed  Hagle,  is  now  found  to  be  the 
young  of  the  (lolden  I'.agle,  These  {progressive  changes  have 
been  ol)servcd  bv  Temminc  k  on  two  living  subjects  which  he 
ke])t  for  several  years. 

The  C.oldL'n  ICagle  is  generally  considered  to  be  a  rare  bird  in 
New  Euiilaiul  and  Canada,  and,  indeed,  througliout  the  settled  dis- 
tricts e\er\  where  ;  though  examples  have  been  taken  the  continent 
over,  trom  (ireenland  to  .Mexico,  and  we.st  to  the  I'.ieific. 


.tflC.^^^tO.ii 


15.\I,I)    i-.Aci.i;. 

WASMINCTON    r..\(iI.E. 
Hai.i.kk'iis  I  lie  (k  I  I'll  mis. 

<'HAR.  Atliilt  :  l)l.ickisli  hniwn,  jialer  on  niart;in  of  feathers  ;  head  and 
tail  white  alter  tliird  year;  bill  ami  feet  vellow;  !eL;s  1)are  of  featlier-^. 
Young:  darker  than  the  adult :  no  white  on  head  or  tail  (or  concealed  by 
contour  feather^;);  bill  and  leet  bio\\iii>h. 

Length  50  to  40  inches  ('{'he  voun,;^  are  larger  than  liie  adult  l)irds, 
and  arc  very  similar  to  the  young  of  the  (lolden  Ivigle,  though  the  latter 
are  easily  distinguished  by  their  feathered  leg--.) 

.Vfst.  On  a  high  tri'c,  usually  in  a  crotch,  seldom  on  a  dead  tree,  some- 
times on  a  cliff;  made  of  dry  sticks  loosely  arranged,  and  (KcasionaUv 
^veed  stems  and  coarse  grass  arc  added  :  but  there  is  rarely  any  att(  nipt  at 
a  lining. 

/:i.irX-^.     2-3;  white  or  pale  buff:  290  X  2.25. 


2Q 


IHkDS    OF    I'RKV. 


'f/it-  ll'as/iiii>;/t>n  /''.iv^/('. —  It  i->  to  llic  indi'tatij^abk-  Audu- 
l)(*ii  th.it  \vf  owe  the  ilisiim  t  note  and  descrii'lion  of  this  nohle 
KaL(lc,  which  first  drew  his  attention  wiiile  \()v:iL(ini,'  fir  up  the 
Mississippi,  in  the  nionlh  of  IV'bruary,  i.Si.j.  At  hiii^^th  he  Iiad 
thi'  satisfaction  of  iliscovcrini,'  its  t'vr\-,  in  tho  hiL;ii  clifls  of  (Iri'eu 
Ri\er,  in  Ki-ntucky,  near  to  its  junction  with  the  ( )hio  :  two 
youiii^  were  di^cover'd  loudly  hissini;  from  a  fissure  in  the 
rocks,  on  *he  apj)!oa(  h  of  the  male,  from  whom  they  re(  ei\'e(l 
a  fish,  'j  •■  r<r;'e  now  also  came,  and  with  solicitous  alarm 
for  the  sati.  ;  ol  1  .r  young,  gave  a  loud  scream,  dropped  the 
food  she  had  brougli  ,  and  hovering  owr  the  molesting  party, 
kept  up  a  growling  and  thre>itening  cry  by  way  of  intimidation  ; 
and  in  fact,  as  our  disappointed  naturalist  soon  discovered,  she 
from  this  time  forsook  the  spot,  and  found  means  to  convey 
away  her  young.  'I'he  tliscoverer  considers  the  species  i.s  rare, 
—  indeed,  its  jirincipal  residence  appears  to  be  in  the  northern 
])arts  of  the  contini-nt,  particularly  the  rocky  solitudes  around 
the  (Ireat  Northwestern  Lakes,  where  it  can  at  all  times  col- 
lect its  finny  prey  and  rear  its  young  without  the  dread  of  man. 
In  the  winter  season,  about  January  and  I-'ebruary,  as  well  as  at 
a  later  i)eriod  of  the  spring,  these  birds  are  occasionally  seen 
in  this  vicinity  (C'ambritlge,  Mass.),  —  rendered  perhaps  bohUr 
and  more  familiar  by  want,  as  the  prevalence  of  the  ice  and 
cold  at  this  season  drives  them  to  the  necessity  of  wandering  far- 
ther than  usual  in  search  oi  food.  At  this  early  period  Audubon 
observed  indications  of  the  approach  of  the  breeding-season, 
'i'hey  are  sometimes  seen  contemling  in  the  air,  so  that  one  of 
the  antagonists  will  suddenK'  dro])  many  feet  downwards,  as  if 
wounded  or  alarmed.  Mv  frii'ud  Hr.  Hayward.  of  IJoston,  had 
in  his  possession  one  of  tln'se  inu'.  docile  Ivigles  for  a  consid- 
erable time  ;  biU  desirous  of  devoting  it  to  the  then  l-innaMn 
Museimi,  he  attempted  to  poison  it  b\  corrosive  sublimate  of 
mercury  :  several  times,  howe\er,  doses  even  of  two  drams 
were  gi\'en  to  it,  conci'aU-d  in  fish,  without  j^roducing  any  inju- 
rious effect  on  its  health. 

The   \Vashingt()n    llagle,    bold    and    vigorous,    disdains    the 
piratical  habits  of  the  Bald   I'lagle,  and   invariably  obtains  his 


i| 


i;.\i  h  i:.\(.i.r. 


21 


own  sustenance  without  niolfstin^,'  tlic  ( •'^j)rcv.  The  circles  he 
(Icscrihes  in  his  HJLjlit  ;ue  wi<li  r  th:in  thn,t'  of  the  ^^'hite- 
hcadi'd  Mai,'K'  ;  he  aKo  lliis  nean  r  to  the  land  or  the  surface 
of  llie  water  ;  and  when  about  to  disc  for  his  j'rey,  he  (K'><  ends 
in  circuitous,  spiral  rounds,  as  if  to  «  hcik  the  retreat  of  the 
fi-fh.  on  whi(  it  he  darts  only  wiii-n  within  the  distance  of  a  few 
yards.  When  his  jiny  is  obtained,  he  llies  out  at  a  low  eleva- 
tion to  a  considerable  distance  tii  eniov  his  re{«a>t  at  leisure. 
The  ([uantity  of  food  (  on^uined  by  this  enormous  binl  is  very 
great,  according'  to  the  account  n(  those  who  have  had  them 
in  ( onfineuHiit.  Mr,  Audubon's  male  bird  wei;^'hed  fourteen 
and  one  half  jiounds  avoirdupois,  ( )ne  in  anall  musetini  in 
l'hikKlelj)hia  (according  to  the  accoimt  oi  ui  friend  Mr.  C. 
Pickering),  also  a  maU-,  weighed  mu(  h  n;  'e,  -  -  ",)V  whi(  h  dif- 
ference it  would  appear  that  they  are  capable  of  becoming 
exceedingly  fat  ;  for  tlie  length  of  this  bird  -•  is  about  the  same 
as  that  t)f  Audubon,  —  thit'e  leet  six  <'r  seven  inches.  The 
width,  however,  was  only  about  M\eii  ;  t,  —  agreeing  pretty 
nearly  with  a  sj)ecimen  now  in  the  Ni  w  laigland  Museum, 
The  male  of  the  (lolden  Magle,  the  largest  hitherto  known,  is 
seldom  more  than  three  feel   long. 

That  this  bird  is  not  the  White-tailed  liagle  {/ui/rc  alhi- 
ci//ti),  or  its  yoiuig,  the  Sea  llagle  (/",  ossi/rai^us),  is  obvi- 
ous from  the  iliftVrence  in  si/e  alone,  the  male  of  that  bird 
being  little  over  two  fi'et  four  im  lies  in  length,  or  a  little 
less  even  than  the  llald  l!agle.  The  female  of  the  Washing- 
ton Magle  must,  of  course,  be  six  or  eight  inches  longer, — 
which  will  give  a  bird  of  unparalleled  iiiagnitu<le  amongst  the 
whole  Magle  race.  This  measurement  of  the  Sea  Kagle  is 
obtained  from  "I'emminck's  "  Manual  of  Ornithology,"  who  has 
examined  more  than  fifty  individuals.  At  the  same  time  I  have 
a  suspicion  that  the  Washington  I'.agle,  notwithstanding  this, 
exists  also  in  Europe  :  a.s  the  '^rcaf  Sea  I'lagle  of  r>ri>son  is 
described  bv  this  author  as  being  three  feet  six  inches  in  length 
from  the  point  of  the  bill  to  the  end  of  thi'  tail,  and  the  stretch 
of  the  wings  about  se\en  feet  !  These  measurements  al^o  are 
ado))ted  by  Huffon  :  but  the  indi\  iduals  were  evidently  in  young 


22 


lURDS    Ol-    I'kKV 


plumaj^'c,  in  which  state,  as  described  by  llrisson,  they  again 
approacli  llie  present  species.  Nor  need  it  l)e  considered  as 
surprising  if  two  dirferent  species  be  confounded  in  the  Sea 
I'.agle  (if  Ilurope,  as  the  recently  estabhshed  Inii)erial  Iviglo 
had  ever  been  confounded  with  the  (iolden.  Another  (Hstin- 
guishing  trait  of  the  Washington  l-lagle  is  in  the  length  of  the 
tail,  which  is  one  and  one  half  inches  longer  than  the  folded 
wings.  In  the  White-tailed  species  this  part  never  extends 
beyonil  the  wings. 

The  White-headed  or  Jia/d  F.ni^/e.  — This  noble  and  daring 
I'iagle  is  found  along  the  sea-coasts,  lakes,  and  rivers  through- 
out the  northern  regions,  being  met  with  in  Asia,  ICurope,  and 
America,  where  they  extend  to  the  shores  of  tlie  Pacific,  and 
as  far  as  the  confines  of  California.  In  IJehrlng's  Isle,  Mack- 
enzie's River,  and  (Ireenland,  they  are  not  uncommon.  Hut 
while  they  are  confined  in  the  Okl  World  to  this  cheerless  re- 
gion so  constantly  that  only  iwo  instances  are  known  of  their 
ap|>earance  in  the  centre  of  Europe,  in  the  United  States  they 
are  most  abumlant  in  the  milder  latitudes,  residing,  breeding, 
and  rearing  their  young  in  all  the  intermediate  space  from 
Nova  Scotia  or  Labrador  to  the  shores  of  the  (lulf  of  Mexico. 
The  rocky  coast  of  this  part  of  New  England  (Massachusetts) 
is,  however,  seldom  tenanted  by  this  species,  though  they  are 
occasionally  seen  in  the  sjjring  and  about  the  connnencement 
of  winter.  In  the  United  States  it  is  certain  that  they  show  a 
decid(.<l  prediliciion  for  the  milder  climates.  It  is  probable 
that  in  luirope  they  are  deterred  in  their  migrations  by  the 
tyrannical  persei  iition  of  the  White-tailed  I^agle  {F.  alhicilhi), 
which  abounds  in  that  country,  living  also  principally  on  fish, 
and  therefore  selecting  the  same  maritime  situations  as  our 
I'^agle.  In  the  United  States  he  sways  almost  without  control 
the  whole  coast  of  the  .Atlantic,  ami  has  rendered  the  rival 
Ospreyhis  humble  tributary,  proscribing,  in  his  turn,  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  Sea  l^agle,  which,  if  it  exist  at  all  with  us,  is 
etjually  as  rare  as  the  present  species  appears  tcj  be  in  lairope. 

Though  on  Behring's  Isle  the  liald  ICagle  is  said  to  nest  on 


'^ 


> 


I!\l  I)    I..\(.I,F. 


^^ 


cliffs,  as  the  only  secure  situation  that  j)robal)ly  offers,  in  the 
I'nited  States  he  usually  selects,  near  the  sea-io.i^t,  ^^oine  lot'ty 
l)ine  or  cypress  tree  for  his  eyry  ;  this  Is  built  of  larj^e  sticks, 
several  feet  in  leiiLjih,  forming  a  lloor,  within  and  i)\er  which 
are  laid  sods  of  earth,  hay,  moss,  dry  reeds,  sedi^'e-j^^rass,  pine- 
tops,  anil  other  coarse  materials,  piled  after  se\eral  iiK  ubations 
to  t';  height  of  5  or  (t  feet,  and  4  or  5  fett  in  breadth.  (  )n 
this  almost  level  bed  the  female  early  in  I'ebruary  deposits  two 
(lull  white  eggs,  one  of  which  is  said  sometimes  to  be  laid  after 
an  interval  so  considerable  that  the  young  are  hatched  at  dif 
ferent  jierioils.  l.aw>>on.  however,  says  that  they  breed  mi 
often  as  to  commence  laying  again  nndi-r  their  callow  young, 
whose  warmth  assists  the  hatching  of  the  eggs.  This  eyry  ot 
breeding-place  continues  to  be  perpetually  o(  (  upird  and  re- 
paired as  long  as  the  tree  endures,  —  indeid  their  attachnunt 
to  particular  places  is  so  strong  that  after  their  habitation  has 
been  demolished,  by  the  destruction  of  the  tree  that  supported 
it,  they  have  very  contentedly  taken  possession  of  an  adjoin- 
ing one.  Nor  is  the  periot.!  of  inc  ubation  the  only  time  spent 
in  the  nest  by  this  species  ;  it  is  a  shelter  and  < ommon  habi- 
tation at  all  times  and  seasons,  being  a  home  like  the  hiil  to 
the   savage,  or  the  cottage  to  the   peasant. 

The  heli)less  young,  as  might  be  sup|)osed.  are  fed  with 
great  attention,  and  suj)plied  with  such  a  sui)erlluity  of  fiMh 
and  other  matters  that  they  often  lie  scattered  around  the 
tree,  ]»ro(hicing  the  most  i)utrid  and  noisome  effluvia.  The 
young  are  at  first  clothed  with  a  whitish  down  ;  they  graduall) 
become  gray,  and  continue  of  a  brownish  gray  until  the  third 
year,  when  the  charaiteristic  white  t)f  the  head  and  tail  be- 
comes ])erfectly  (leveloi)ed.  .\s  their  food  is  abundant,  the 
young  are  not  forcibly  driven  from  the  nest,  but  t\'d  for  some 
time  after  they  have  left  it.  Thiy  are  b)  no  imans  shy  or 
timorous,  will  often  permit  a  near  ajiproac  h.  and  sometimes 
even  bristle  up  their  feathers  in  an  attitude  of  daring  de- 
fence. Their  cry  is  sonorous  and  lamentable,  like  that  of  the 
(Ireat  llagle,  and  when  asleej)  they  are  said  to  make  a  very 
audible  snoring  sound. 


=4 


liikh^  ni    i'Ki:v 


'I'hc  principal  food  of  the  Haiti  Magic  is  fish;  and  though  he 
possfsst's  every  nciui^ilc  of  alertnos  and  keenne^i  of  virion 
for  securing  his  j>rcv,  it  is  seldom  that  he  ohtain-^  it  l>y  any 
other  means  than  stratagem  and  rapine.  I'or  thi^  habitual 
daring  pur|)ose  he  is  often  sien  perc  hing  upon  the  naked 
limb  of  some  lot'ty  tree  which  commands  an  extensive  \ie\v  of 
tile  ocean.  In  this  attitude  of  expec  tation  he  heedlessly  sur- 
veys the  active  employment  of  ilie  leathered  throng,  which 
{  oiirse  along  the  wi\y  strand,  or  explore  the  watery  deep  with 
beating  wing,  mitil  from  afir  he  attentisely  scans  the  motions 
of  his  provider,  the  ample-winged  and  hovering  ( )>.prey.  At 
length  the  watery  prey  is  espied,  and  the  featlured  fisher  de- 
scentls  like  a  falling  ro(  k  ;  cleaving  the  wave,  he  now  bears  his 
struggling  victim  from  the  deep,  and  mounting  in  the  air, 
utters  an  exulting  scream.  At  this  signal  the  l^agle  jtirate 
gives  (base  to  the  fortunate  fisher,  and  soaring  above  him,  by 
threatening  attitudes  obliges  him  to  relimiuish  his  prey  ;  the 
I'-agle,  now  poising  for  a  surer  aim.  clescends  like  an  arrow, 
and  snatching  his  booty  before  it  arrives  at  the  water,  retires 
to  tile  wcjods  to  consume  it  at  leisure.  These  perpetual  dcp- 
redatioiiM  on  the  industrious  ( )sprey  sometimes  arouse  him  to 
seek  for  vingeance,  and  sever.il  occasicjnally  unite  to  banish 
their  tyrannical  invailer.  W'hiii  greatly  pressed  by  hunger,  the 
llald  I'.agle  has  sometimes  been  ol)s«.r\-ed  to  attack  the  \'ul- 
ture  in  the  air,  obliging  him  to  disgorge  the  carrion  in  his 
craw,  which  he  snatches  up  beft)re  it  reaches  the  grt)Uiid.  He 
is  sometimes  seen  also  to  drive  away  the  Vultures,  and  feed 
voraciously  on  their  carrion,  besides  fi-ih,  he  preys  upon 
1  )U(  ks,  (leese,  (lulls,  ami  other  sea- fowl  ;  and  when  the  re- 
sources of  the  ocean  diminish,  or  fail  from  any  cause,  par- 
ticularly  on  the  southern  migrauon  of  the  (Jsprey,  his  inland 
depredations  are  soon  notorious,  young  lambs,  pigs,  tawns,  and 
even  deer  often  becoming  his  prey.  So  indiscriminate  in- 
deed is  the  fierce  appetite  of  this  bold  bird  that  instances  are 
credibly  related  of  their  carrying  away  inlants.  An  attempt  of 
this  kind,  according  to  Wilson,  was  made  upon  a  child  lying 
by  its  mother  as   she   was  weeding  a  garden  at  (Ireat   Kgg- 


i 


bALI»   KACI.E. 


II  he 

i>ion 

any 

iittial 

u  of 
siir- 

•hich 
wiih 

»tions 
At 


ig 


IlarlKir,  in  New  Jersey:  but  the  garment  sci/e«l  upon  by  the 
liable  yiving  way  at  the  instant  »)f  the  attempt,  the  lite  of  the 
(  hild  was  spared.  I  have  heard  ol"  another  instance',  >aid  to 
have  happeneil  at  lVtcr>l>uruh,  in  Cieorgia,  n^ar  the  Savaiuiah 
kiver,  where  an  infant,  sleeping  in  the  >hade  near  the  hou>e, 
was  seize<i  and  carrieil  to  the  eyry  near  the  edge  of  a  swani[i 
li\e  miles  di>tant,  and  when  found,  almost  innnediately,  the 
(hild  was  dead.  The  story  of  the  Kagle  and  <  hild,  iii  'The 
ni>tory  of  the  Ilou^e  of  Stanley,"  the  origin  of  the  crest  of 
that  family,  shows  the  credibility  of  the  exploit,  as  Mipjiosed  to 
liave  been  effei  ie«l  by  the  White-tailed  Kagle,  so  Uf  irly  related 
to  the  present.  Indeed,  about  the  year  1745  some  Scoteh 
reapers,  accompanied  by  the  wile  ol  one  of  them  with  an 
infant,  repiireil  to  an  island  in  l.och  l.omond  ;  the  mother  1  aiil 
down  her  child  in  the  shade  at  no  great  distance  from  her,  and 
while  ^he  was  busily  engaged  in  labor,  an  Kagle  ol  this  kind 
siuldenly  darted  upon  the  infint  and  immediately  bore  it  away 
to  its  rocky  eyry  on  the  summit  of  I'.en  l.omond.  The  alarm 
of  this  shocking  event  was  soon  spread  :  and  a  considerable 
party,  hurrying  to  the  rescue,  fortimaiely  succeeded  in  re<iner- 
ing  the  child  .iHve. 

The  Bald  Kagle.  like  most  of  tlie  large  species,  takes  wide 
circuits  in  its  tlight,  and  soars  at  great  heights.  In  these  sub- 
lime attitudes  he  may  often  be  seen  hovering  over  waterfalls 
and  lofty  cataracts,  particularly  that  of  the  famous  Niagara, 
where  he  watches  for  the  f;ite  of  those  imfortunate  fish  anil 
other  animals  that  are  destroyed  in  the  descent  of  the  tumul- 
tuous waters. 

All  ornitlioloiiists  of  the  present  day  agree  in  the  opinion  that 
Audubon's  ••  bird  oi  Washington  '*  was  an  ininiatine  !'>alil  l-as^lc, 
—  the  (lifferenee  in  size  and  coloration  accounting  lor  tlie  error. 

Nuttall,  followinti  Aiuluhon.  wrote  of  the  two  phases  as  of  (hs- 
tinct  species :  lor  it  was  not  until  about  1.S70  that  7Utis/uUi^Uvii  was 
(hopped  from  tlie  lists.  I  have  ijiven  the  two  biographies  as  thiy 
appeared  in  the  original  work,  for  together  they  form  a  good  lii>- 
tory  of  tlie  bird's  distinetive  habits.  'Ihe  (Ufference  in  habits  noted 
is  not  due  to  ilifterence  of  age,  as  might  be  supposed,  but  to  the 
(Hfferent  conditions  under  which  the  birds  chanced  to  be  obscn 


26 


lURDS   OF    rUKV. 


I  will  take  this  opportunity  of  protesting;  aijainst  tlie  perpetua- 
tion of  an  idea,  still  current,  wiiicii  originated  with  the  older  writers, 
toncerniny  the  •■nobility"  of  tiie  Falconiihc,  under  which  family 
name  are  grouped  the  J-agles,  1*  alcons,  Kites,  and  Hawks.  They 
were  until  (|uite  recently  classed  among  the  first  of  tlie  feathered 
race  :  but  the  systematists  now  place  them  below  the  Woodpeckers, 
and  next  aljove  the  (irouse  and  Pigeons. 

'Ilie  in.ijority  of  the  Falion'uhc  have  an  attractive  physique  and 
superior  strength,  as  well  as  a  haughty  i)earing.  They  are  hand- 
some, .stalwart  ruffians,  but  they  are  nothing  more.  They  are 
neitiier  tiie  most  intelligent  nor  niost  enterprising  of  birds,  nor  the 
bravest.  They  are  not  even  the  swiftest,  or  most  dexterous  on  the 
wing  ;  and  in  bearing,  proudly  as  they  carry  themselves,  are  not 
supreme. 

It  i.s  now  considered  probable  that  the  tales  of  Eagles  carrying 
off  children  are  myths. 


CRAY   SF.A    KAGLE. 


will TF-TAILEn   EAGLE. 
II  VI.I.KI   US    AI.i;iClI.I,A. 

CllAK.  Gcner.!!  color,  grayisli-brown  (i)alcr  on  margin  of  feathers); 
head  .iikI  neck  Rray,  —  jKiler  in  old  birds  ;  tail  white;  legs  bare. 

Length  :  male,  ^t^  inches  ;  fi'niale,  3S  inches. 

,\'<.f/.  In  a  tree  or  on  a  rock,  sonictinies  on  the  ground  ;  made  of  dry 
sticks  loosely  arranged  and  otten  piled  to  considL'rable  height. 

^V.^'J-     1-3  (usually  1).  dull  white;  2.S5  X  -.25. 

Mr.  llagerup  reports  that  this  Fuiropean  bird  breeds  in  southerti 
( ireenland  and  is  (|uite  common  there.  It  feeds  jirincipally  on  fish, 
but  will  eat  any  kind  of  meat  or  carrion.  l)eing  iiarticularly  partial 
to  water  fowl,  and  is  much  more  enterprising  than  is  its  congeiiei, 
the  Dald  Ea^le. 


I 


AMKKICAN    ()SI'ki:V. 
risii  HAWK. 

PaNHKiN     lIAIIAl'lLS    CAROI.INF.NSIS. 

CiiAK.  Almve,  daik  hinwti;  lu'ad  ami  neck  wliilc,  with  dark  strijie  on 
^ido  of  the  head  ;  tail  ^iiavi-li,  will  sivnal  iiaiiow  dark  I)ar>,  aiul  lipiud 
witli  wl\ite  ;  muier-l>ans  while  nr  ')ulti>h,  soiiictimes  (ii\  (emaic)  streaked 
with  brown.  Kcet  and  claws  larj;e  at\d  strong.  ll<>i>k  nf  the  l)ill  h)iii;. 
Length  21  to  .1 5  inclies. 

.\':'7.  Of  l()()>clv  arraiiiicd  sticks  on  top  of  liij^li  tree,  —  generally  a 
iK.ul  tree  is  selected:  u-ually  near  water. 

/•.';:;'.'.  2  to  4  ;  vari,d)le  in  shape,  color,  size,  and  markings  ;  ground 
color  generallv  whitish,  witii  yellow  or  red  tint,  hlotchctl  with  reddish 
brown  of  various  shades.     Size  about  2.50  X  1-75 

'I  his  hxT'^v  and  well-known  spcties,  allied  to  the   Ma^i^les,  is 
fomul  near  fresh  and  salt  water  in  almost  every  cuuntry  in  the 


28 


|;IKI>.>>   c»i-    IKKV 


world.  In  sumnuT  it  watnlers  iiikj  the  Arctic  rcijions  of 
l!uro|)e,  Asia,  and  America  ;  it  is  also  e<iually  j)rcvalciu  m  the 
milder  parts  of  both  continents,  as  in  (Irecce  and  !'-^'yi>t.  In 
America  it  is  found  in  the  summer  from  Labrador,  and  the 
interior  around  Hudson's  Hay,  to  1-lorida  ;  and  aciordiuL;  to 
liuflbn.  it  extends  its  residence  to  the  trojiical  regiouM  oi 
Cayenne. 

Its  food  ])eing  almost  uniformly  fish,  it  readily  acquires  sub- 
•^i^tl■n( f  as  long  as  the  w.iters  remain  unfrozen  :  but  at  the 
( DUinuiK  enunt  of  cool  weather,  even  a->  early  a->  the  c  lo>e  ol 
September,  or  at  fj.rthest  the  middle  of  October,  these  birds 
liMve  New  \'ork  and  .New  Jersey  and  iio  farther  south.  This 
tarlv  period  of  departure  is,  in  all  |>rol)ability,  like  their  arrival 
towards  the  close  of  M.irch,  wholly  rejiulated  by  the  coining 
and  going  of  the  shoals  of  fi>h  on  which  they  are  a(CU^tonieil 
to  \vrt\.  Towards  the  cloie  of  Manh  or  beginning  tjf  April 
thev  arrive  in  the  vicinity  of  llosion  with  the  lir,>i  ^\u)a\  ot' 
aleui\('s  or  herrings;  but  yet  are  seldiim  known  to  breed  along 
du'  ( ()a>t  of  Massachusetts.  Their  arrival  in  the  .-.pring  is  wel- 
(onu'd  by  the  fisherman  as  the  sure  in<lication  of  the  approach 
of  those  shoals  of  shad,  herring,  and  other  kinds  of  ti>h  which 
now  begin  to  throng  the  bay»,  inlets,  .ind  rivers  near  the  ocean  ; 
and  the  abundance  with  whit  h  the  w.Uers  teem  affords  ample 
sustenance  for  both  the  aerial  and  terrestrial  fishers,  as  eac  h 
pursues  in  peace  his  favorite  and  necessary  emplo\iiunt.  In 
>hort,  the  harmle>>  industry  of  the  0>|)rey.  the  f,inuhiiit\-  with 
whi(  li  lu-  rears  his  \oung  .iround  the  farm,  hii  unexpected 
neutrality  towards  all  the  domestic  animals  near  hiin,  iiis  snb- 
iiiuely  pictures(iue  tlight  .md  remarkable  employment,  with  the 
strong  affe(  tion  ilisplayed  towanls  his  « on^tant  mate  and  long 
helpless  young,  and  the  wrongs  he  hourly  suffer-,  tVoin  the 
pirate  I'.agle,  are  (  ir(  um>tan(  es  sutticiently  <alculated.  without 
the  aid  of  rc'ady  superstiti«)n,  to  ensure  the  |)ublie  faxor  and 
toliaiiKe  towards  thi>  welcome  visitor.  Driven  to  no  iiarsh 
necessilie--,  like  hi-  Miperiors  the  Kagles,  he  lead-*  a  roinj  ir- 
atively  harmk'ss  life  ;  and  though  unjtjstly  (loomed  to  MiMtiide. 
his  address  and  industry  raise  him  greatly  above  lii>  oppressor, 
so    that    he    ^^pplies    himself  and   hi-  voium  with    :i    plentiful 


♦ 


x>^ 


AMKRK  AN    OSTRKV. 


^9 


cs  sub- 
It   the 

L'   birds 

'Ihis 

arrival 


sustenance.     His  docility  and  adroitness  in  catching  fish  have 
uIm)  s(»nK-tin\es  been  emi/.oycd  ])y  man  for  his  advantage 

Intent  on  exi)loring  the  sea  for  his  food,  he  leaves  the  nest 
and  jiroeeeds  directly  to  the  scene  of  action,  sailing  n)iind  \\\ 
easy  an<l  wide  circles,  and  turning  at  times  as  on  a  i)iv(ji,  ap- 
pirently  without  exertion,  wiiile  his  long  and  (  nrving  wing> 
>eem  scarcelv  in  motion.  At  the  height  of  from  one  hundred 
to  two  nunored  feet  he  (ontinues  to  >urvev  tiie  i)osoni  of  tlie 
deep.  Suddenly  he  checks  his  course  and  hovers  in  the  air 
with  beating  pinions  ;  he  then  descends  with  rapidity,  but  the 
wily  victnn  has  escaped.  .Wnv  he  courses  near  the  surface,  and 
by  a  dodging  descent,  scarcely  wetting  his  feet,  he  seizes  a  fish, 
which  he  >t)meinnes  drops,  or  yielils  to  tiu'  greedy  l^agle  ;  but, 
not  discouraged,  he  again  ascends  in  spiral  sweeps  to  regain 
the  higher  regions  of  the  air  and  renew  his  survey  of  the  watery 
expanse.  ili^>  prey  again  espied,  he  descends  per])endicularly 
like  a  falling  plummet,  plungmg  into  the  sea  with  a  loud,  rush- 
ing noise  and  with  an  unerring  aim.  In  an  instant  he  emerges 
with  the  -iruggling  prc-y  in  his  talons,  shakes  off  the  water 
from  his  t'eatliers.  and  now  directs  his  laborious  course  to  land, 
beating  in  the  wind  with  all  the  skill  of  a  practised  seaman. 
'I'he  n>h  whi<  h  he  thus  c  arries  uiay  be  sometimes  from  six  to 
eight  pounds  :  and  ^o  firm  sometimes  i->  tlie  penetrating  grasp 
of  his  talons  that  when  1)\  mistake  he  engages  with  one  whicli 
is  too  1 '.rge,  he  is  dragged  beneatli  the  waves,  and  at  length 
both   fish  and   bird   perish. 

l*'rom  t'^'  nature  of  its  food,  the  llesh.  and  even  the  eggs,  are 
renilereil  exi ceilingl)  rank  and  na  iseous.  'I'hough  its  prev  is 
generally  taken  in  the  bold  and  spirited  mimier  described,  an 
Osprey  Mimelimes  sits  on  a  tree  cjver  a  j)ond  lor  an  hoiu"  at 
a  time,  .luietly  waiting  its  expec:ted  approac  h. 

I'nlike  other  rapacious  birds,  these  may  be  almost  con- 
>idired  gregarious,  breeding  so  near  eac  h  otlier  that,  accord- 
ing to  Mr.  (iardiner,  there  were  on  the  small  island  on  which 
he  resided,  near  to  the  eastern  extremity  of  l.ong  Islaml 
(New  \"ork),no  less  than  three  hundred  nests  with  young. 
Wilson  ol»er\ed  twenty  of  their  nests  within  half  a  mile.  I 
have  seen  them  nearlv  as  tlii<  k  about    Kehoboth   I'.av  in  1  )ela 


;;o 


liiKDs  oi-  ri<i:\'. 


ware,  Ht-rc  tl)oy  \\\c  toi^'cthcr  at  ka->t  as  pea;  ca]>lv  in  iuuk;-..; 
..11(1  s<»  harin!t.'ss  arc  they  considered  by  other  bird  tliit,  :».c- 
rordinij  to  Wilson,  the  (row  IMackbird-^,  or  (Irakles,  are  -.onie- 
linies  allowed  refiiiie  by  the  (Jspreys,  and  construct  their  nests 
111  the  very  interstices  of  their  eyry.  It  would  appear  sonie- 
tiiiies  tiiat,  as  with  Swallows,  a  general  assistance  is  f^iven  in 
the  constructin}^  of  a  new  nest  ;  for  previous  to  thi-,  event,  a 
l]o(  k  lia\e  been  seen  to  assemble  in  the  sanu-  tree,  s(|uealing  as 
is  their  custom  when  anything  materially  aL;itati->  tin  in.  At 
times  they  are  also  seen  en}j;age(l  in  social  gambols  high  in  the 
air,  making  loud  vociferations,  suddenly  d;irting  down,  and  then 
sailing  in  circles;  and  these  innocent  recreations,  like  many 
otlier  unmeaning  things,  an-  construed  into  prognostications  of 
stormy  or  changing  weather.  'J'lieir  common  friendly  call  is  a 
kind  of  shrill  whistle,  '/»//(<%',  '///^a-.  '///^r.',  ri'i)eated  li\c  or  six 
times,  and  somewhat  similar  to  the  toiu-  of  a  file.  Though 
social,  they  are  sometimes  seen  to  combat  in  the-  air.  in^ts.:  ititl 
prol)al)ly  more  by  jealousy  than  a  l()\e  of  r  iiiine.  as  fli.. ::  food 
is  always  obtained  from  an  unfailing  source. 

Marl)'  in  May  the  Osprey  commences  laying,  and  has  from 
two  to  four  eggs.  They  are  a  littlr  larger  than  those  of  the 
Common  l'V)wl,  and  are  from  a  reddish  or  yellowish  cnMm-color 
fo  marlv  white,  marked  with  large'  blotches  and  loints  of 
reddish  brown.  I  hiring  the  period  of  incubation  the  male 
freipiently  supplies  his  mate  witli  food,  and  she  leaves  her  eggs 
f«jr  very  short  intervals. 

The  young  appe;ir  about  '■  '^  lasi  of  |une,  and  ,\rc  most 
assiduously  attended  and  supplied.  ( )n  the  approach  of  any 
person  towards  the  nest,  the  parent  utters  a  ])eculiar  plaintive, 
whistling  note,  which  increases  as  it  takes  to  wing,  sailing 
rcjund,  and  at  times  making  a  (luick  descent,  as  if  aiming  at 
the  intruder,  but  sweeping  ])ast  at  a  short  distance.  On  thi- 
nest  being  invaded,  either  while  containing  eggs  or  young, 
the  male  disjilays  great  courage  and  makes  a  vioK'nt  an<l 
dangerous  ()p|)osition.  The  yoimg  remain  a  long  time  in  the 
nest.  s(j  that  the  old  are  sometimes  obliged  to  thrust  thnn 
u'!t  and  encourage  them  to  fly  :  but  lluy  ^iill,  for  a  period,  con- 
tinue to  feed  them  in  the  air. 


:-m% 


■:Ki^!!(^^ii,S^m^L-^-. 


111.  Ai 
ill  the 

111  tlu'ii 
many 

lums  of 
ill  is  a 

|e  or  six 

Uiualrd 
I  loud 


AMKKK  AN    (iOSIIAWK. 
ni.rr:  iif.n  hawk. 

A(  ClI'MKR    AlKIt  Al'II.I.rS, 

Thar.  Above,  dark  bliii-.li  i;iav;  lop  nf  head  black,  the  fialhers  be- 
neath the  surface  white;  whit'  >tri|)c  f)ver  the  eye  :  tail  with  t'"in  dark 
bands  .  below,  white  barred  and  >treakcd  with  narrow  dark  !inc>  Vi)nn:4 
very  different  ;  above,  brown,  cdne-  nf  feathers  buffish  ;  tail  lij^htei ,  ti))pfd 
with  wiiite  and  crossed  by  four  or  live  dark  bands;  below,  buflish,  streaked 
witii  l)rown.     Kenj^th  22  to  2.\  incho. 

AV.f/.      In  a  tree  ;  made  of  iwii,"  . 

Av;.r.  3-\  :  bluish  white,  with  bnff  or  reddish  brown  nKirkin.;s  ;  2. '^o 
X  1.75. 

The  f()re'i<rn  rcprfscntatlNr  ot  this  t'lejiant  and  spiritcil  sp, 
cies  of  Hawk  appears  to  lu-  ( oninion  in  l*>anre,  Cieririaiiy,  the 
northt-rn  parts  of  Cirt'at  Britain,  Russia,  and  Siberia,  ;nid  ex- 
tends into  Chinese  Tartary.  Our  sjiecies,  so  nearl\-  related  '.<> 
the  iMiropean  bird,  is  viry  r;ire,  niitirating  to  the  South  aj)- 
parently  at  tlu'  iijiproach  of  winter.  On  the  _'6th  of  <  October, 
I S  ^o.    I    re(t.-ived   oiu'   of  these   birds   from    the    proprietor   of 


32 


I'.ikDs  (»!•   rki-.v. 


l-'roh  Tond  lloti-l,  in  \hv  moult,  liaving  the  stonvicli  ciainmcd 
with  iin)lr>  an<l  mict',  and  it  was  shoi  in  ihc  act  of  di-voiirini,' 
a    I'lL'ton. 

Tin-  (ioshawk  was  held  in  considerable  esteem  for  f  il(  oiirv, 
and.  at  (  (irdin,u'  to  Hell,  was  employed  for  this  amusi-mrnt  by 
the  emperor  of  China,  wlio  moved  sometimes  to  tluse  excur- 
sions m  f^'reat  state,  ot'ti-n  bearin.L,^  a  Hawk  on  his  jiand,  to  let 
ll\  at  any  ^ame  that  mij^du  be  raised.  whi<  h  was  UMially  Pheas- 
ants. Tartridges.  (^)nails,  or  (  rines.  In  \  2(><)  Marco  I'olo 
witne--->ed  this  di\er>ion  of  the  emperor,  uiu(  h  probably  hid 
existi'd  tor  man\'  ages  previous.  The  filconers  distinj,mislu<l 
tluse  liinN  of  sport  into  two  classes.  —  namely,  those  of  fih  oiua' 
proi)erly  so  called,  and  those  of  Ihi-c/a'iii:; ;  and  in  this  second 
.md  inferior  class  were  includeil  the  (Ioshawk,  the  S])arrow 
Hawk.  llu/,/.ard.  and  llar])y.  'i'his  species  does  not  soar  so  hi^h 
as  the  longer-winifed  Hawks,  and  darts  upon  its  (|uarry  by  a  side 
glain  e,  not  by  a  diri'ct  desctiu,  like  tlu-  true  P'ah  on.  These 
bird-- wi're  caught  in  nets  baited  with  live  Pigeons,  and  reduced 
to  obfdi<'nce   b\'  the   same  system  of  pri\ation  and  discii)line 

ris    till'    i'.ilicn. 


as   nic    r.iiion. 

A  p.iir  of  ( loshawks  were  l-^pt  for  a  long  time  in  a  cage  by 
P.uffi.i;  lie  remarks  that  the  female  was  at  least  a  third  larger 
tliiUi  the  maU'.  ami  the  wings,  wluai  closed,  did  not  reach 
vvithm  ^i\  in<  he-  o(  the  end  of  the  tail.  'I'he  ni.ik',  though 
smiller.  was  nnu  h  more  fierce  and  untamable.  'rhe\-  otten 
fought  with  fhfir  <  laws,  but  seldom  used  the  bill  for  any  other 
purpos<'   I  .an  tearing   their  f(»oil.      If  this  lonsisttd    oi'  birds. 


i 


not!  V,  lue  luuie  uis.igrei'.ioie  me  oiii-iier  ine\  were  ri'peaieo  ; 
and  th(,  cage  could  never  be  ap])roached  without  exciting 
violent  gestures  and  screams.  Though  of  different  sexes,  and 
confined  to  the  same  cage,  they  contrac  ted  no  iriendshi|)  for 
each  <»;'»er  which  mitiht  soothe  their  ini|»risonment,  and  finally, 


COSllAWK. 


?>^ 


to  end  the  dismal  picture,  the  fein.ili',  in  a  fit  of  indiscriniiiiate 
rage  and  vioK-nee,  murdered  her  mali-  in  'he  silen( c  ol  liu- 
night,  when  ail  the  oilier  fealliered  race  wi-re  wrapin-d  \n 
rcpoNc.  Indeed,  their  disposiiicjiis  are  so  furious  that  ados- 
hawk,  left  with  any  other  I'alcons,  soon  ef(ei:ts  tin-  destructitm 
of  the  whole.  Their  ordinary  food  is  young  rabbits,  scpiirrels, 
mice,  moles,  yoimg  (ieese,  Pigeons,  and  >inall  birds,  anil,  with 
a  cannibal  appetite,  they  sometimes  even  prey  upon  the  young 
of  their  own  species. 

The  (lO.sliawk  is  not  >i()  v.ivv  in  AiiuTita  a.s  the  older  naturalists 
su|)pose(l :  indeed,  ii  is  (piite  a  common  bird  in  the  maritime  I'ro\ 
inces  of  Canada  and  in  nortlii  in  New  jjigland.  where  it  is  lound 
(luruig  the  tiilire  year,  it  oi  curs  also  west  to  .M.initoi).i  (though 
api^areiitly  rare  in  tlie  l..ikf  Superior  region),  .lud  ranges,  in  winter, 
.south  to  Maryland,  Kentucky,  and  Ohio. 

Its  usual  hreediug  area  is  from  about  latitude  45°  to  the  fur 
countries:  though  a  few  pairs  |)rot)al)lv  build  every  year  in  southern 
.New  ICnglaud.  .So  It  w,  ( omparalivilv.  of  the  older  .uid  lull-plii 
maged  birds  are  seen  that  the  species  is  not  well  known,  the 
younger  brown  birds  beiug  almost  iudistingui.sli.iiile  tVom  the 
young  of  .several  other  Hawks. 

There  are  sever. il  sjiei  ies  tli.it  receive  tlie  name  of  ••  Hei'  Hawk  " 
from  the  f.irmer;  but  none  is  .so  much  dreaded  as  the  •*  Blue  Hawk." 
—  and  for  good  reason.  With  a  boldness,  strength,  and  di'xti'rity  ot 
Might  that  is  rivalled  ouly  by  the  Peregrine,  the  (iosh.iwk  (om- 
bines  a  spirit  of  enter|)rise  worthy  ot  the  Osprev,  and  a  ferocitv 
and  <  unning  that  .ire  num. itched  by  any  of  the  tribe.  I  have  seen 
one  swoop  into  a  f.irmyard  while  the  fowls  were  bi  iiig  fi-d,  and 
carry  off  a  half-grow n  chit k  without  .iu\  percei)tible  [)ause  in  the 
High't. 


vol..  1.  —  3 


i\Vr»^r.. 


^;>>^ 


c:(>oi'i:k's  hawk. 

A(  (  ii'iri:K  i(K)i'i:kii. 

(  llAK.  Atliilt  l)liiish  grav  or  .ilnm^t  l)liiisli  aslu  head  darker;  below, 
wliitisli,  breast  and  liclly  tliicklv  >trcakcd  with  rt-ddisli  limwn,  -iiKs  with 
a  l)liii>l»  tinge;  wings  and  tail  barretl  with  tlaik  brown,  tail  tipped  with 
white.      Length  about  il)  inches  (female  2  to  .?  inches  longer). 

.\is/.     In  a  tree,  near  the  trunk  ;  made  of  twigs,  lined  with  grass. 

^.^X-f-  ]-A'  bluish  white  spotted  with  reddish  brown  isoinctimcs  im- 
niaiulate)  ;  i.oo  X  1.50. 

This  fiiu'  specifs  of  Hawk  is  found  in  considorablt'  numlKTs 
in  the  Middle  Stati-s.  partic  nlarly  Niw  \'ork  and  Nfw  jcrsi-y, 
in  the  atitmnn  and  at  tiie-  approach  of  winter.  It  is  also 
seen  in  the  Oregon  territory  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacitli  .  Its 
food  a])pears  principally  to  be  birds  of  various  '-inds  ;  from 
thi'  Sparrow  to  the  RnCfed  droiise.  all  contribute  to  its  rajja- 
cious  appetite.  1  ha\e  also  si'iai  this  species  as  tar  south  as 
the  capital  of  Alabama,  and.  in  common  with  the  ])receding. 
its  depredations  among  the  domestic  fowls  are  very  destructive. 
Mr.  (a)opi'r  informs  me  that  the  plumage  of  the  adult  male 
liears  the  same  analogy  to  the  adult  of  F.  fusciis  as  the  voung 
of  that  species  does  to  the   present,  excepting  that  the  rufous 


If 


t 


siiai;i-mii\m;i>  hawk. 


315 


tints  arc  paKr.      I  he  iliH\rfmf  in   si/i' between  the  two  is  as 


or  eviii 


to      1, 


C(i(tiur's  Mauk  is  ^in.  i  ,ill\  (listril)Uti(l  tlirt»ii<;h«)Ut  Nortli  Aimr- 
iia  (rum  tlii.'  fur  louiitrio  lu  .Mf.\in»  (in  wiiUt-n.  tlioiiyh  most 
.-ilmndant  in  tlic  sniitlu-rn  portions  of  New  Knclanrl  anfl  in  t'a' 
Middle  States,  wlicrc  it   is  I  airly  (ommon  at  all  siasons. 

It  is  called  "Cliitkcn  Hawk  "  by  the  Nortlurn  fariut-rs. 


SH.\KI'-SlIlN\i:!y    HAWK. 

.\(  t  iriii.u  \  ri.nx. 

TllAK.  'ilu'  .idult  may  Ik'  l)Lst  (Icscrihcd  as  ;i  small  iditioii  nf 
(uoikt's  Hawk,  which  it  rcstniMcs  in  :ihn<ist  cvcrvtirm<^  hut  s'\/x .  The 
lop  of  the  luad  is  bluish,  and  the  ihnks  have  a  reddish  tinge.  Length 
of  male  about  1 1  inches  ;  female  somi'  2  inches  lon;.iir. 

Xis/.     In  a  tree;  made  of  twiu-^,  and  lined  with  haves  and  grass. 
AVv-f-     .i"5''    I'l'iisli    wiiite    or    greenish    white  blotched    with    brown; 
I..15  X   1.15. 

This  l)ol(l  and  darin.u'  spi-ciis  possesses  all  the  ••otiiaycons 
habits  and  tenicnly  of  the  tnu-  I'ahon  :  and  if  the  princely 
amnsetnent  to  whirh  tliesc  birds  wire  .'.cvotcd  was  now  in 
fashion,  few  spc(  ies  of  the  genus  would  be  found  more  san- 
guinary and  pugnacious  than  the  present.  'I'he  young  bird  is 
described  by  IVnnanl  under  the  name  of  the  Pubious  I'.ilcon, 
and  he  remarks  its  aflinity  to  the  Fairopean  Sparrow  Hawk. 
It  is,  however,  somewhat  less,  diffi-rentlv  marked  on  the  head, 
and  mu(  h  more  broadlv  and  faintly  barred  below.  The  nest 
of  our  species,  according  to  Audubon,  is  made  in  a  tree,  and  the 
eggs  are  tour  or  l'i\e,  grayish  wiiiie,  blotched  with  dark  brown  ; 
they  lay  about  the  beginning  to  the  middle  of  March.  The 
true  .Sparrow  1  lawk  shows  (onsiderable  do(  ihty,  is  easil\  trained 
to  hunt  Partridges  and  (juails.  and  makes  great  destrm  tion 
among  I'igeons,  young  poultrx,  and  small  birds  of  all  kinds. 
In  the  winter  tlie)  migrate  from  lair«jpe  into  liarbary  and 
(ireece,  anil  .ire  seen  in  great  numbers  out  at  sea,  m. iking  such 
h.ivoc  among  tiie  birds  of  p.issage  they  h.ippcn  to  meet  in 
tiieir  way  that  the  s.nlois  in  the  Mediterranean  call  them 
(nrs.iirs.      Wilson  obserxed  the  leiu.ile  of  our  spi<  ii-s  di'S(  end 


.36 


iwRhs  ()!•   \'\<i:\. 


ii|Kiii  itM  I'rcy  with  ^tcat  \cl()(  il)  in  ;i  ^ort  of  /i<;-/;ij;  poiiiK  c, 
aftiT  tlif  iiKimu'r  of  ihc  (ioshawk.  I  )fs(  i-iidinj,'  fiiriDiisly  and 
hliiiflly  upon  its  (|narry.  a  youn^'  Hawk  of  this  spccit's  hrokc 
tlirotii^'h  tlu'  glass  of  ilu'  greenhouse  at  the  ("anibridgc  Uot  inic 
(l.irdcn,  and  tcarlcssly  passing  ihnMigh  a  si'( ond  gliss  p.irti 
tion,  he  was  only  brought  up  by  the  third,  and  (aught,  though 
little  stunned  by  the  effort.  His  wing-feathers  were  niu(  h  torn 
!)>■  the  glass,  anci  his  fiigin  in  tiiis  way  so  iui])e(ie(i  as  to  aiiovv 
of  his  being  approached.  This  species  feeds  princii)ally  upon 
mice,  li/ards,  small  birds,  and  sometimes  evi-n  si|uirre'-i.  Ih 
the  thinly  seltU'd  States  of  ( leorgia  and  .\lal)ama  this  llawk 
si-ems  to  abound,  and  pro\cs  extremely  destructive  to  young 
chickens,  a  single  binl  h  iving  bii-n  known  regularly  to  couu' 
every  da\- until  he  had  carrii-d  away  betwetn  twenty  and  thirty. 
At  noon-dav,  while  I  was  conversing  with  a  planter,  one  of  these 
Hawks  (ami'  down,  and  without  any  ceremony,  or  heeding  the 
loud  crie^  of  the  housewife,  who  most  reluctantly  witnessed  the 
robbery,  >ii  itched  aw.iy  a  chi(  ken  directly  bi-fore  us.  At  an- 
other time,  near  Tuscaloosa,  in  Alabama,  I  observed  a  pair  of 
these  birds  furiously  attack  the  large  Ked-tailed  Hawk,  scpiall- 
ing  \-ery  loudly,  and  striking  him  (>n  the  head  until  they  jiail 
entirelv  chased  him  out  of  sight.  This  emnitv  appi'ared  to 
ariM'  from  a  suspi(  ion  that  the  llu/./ard  was  prowling  round 
the  farm-house  fiU'  tlu'  poultry,  which  tlu'se  Hawks  seeme(|  to 
claim  as  their  e\(  lu^ive  pen|uisite.  .\s  this  was,  however,  the 
I  ',th  (if  I'tbruary,  these  insulting  marauders  might  possibly  be 
already  ])reparing  to  breed,  and  thus  l>e  incited  to  drive  away 
every  su-.pi(  iou-.  intruder  approaching  their  ne^t.  In  fme 
weather  I  lia\c  ob^erwd  this  spi-cies  soar  to  a  great  ele\ation, 
and  ascend  abo\'e  tlu'  clouds.  In  tlii-^  cxen  iM',  as  u->ual,  the 
wings  seem  but  little  e\fr(  i^.ed,  the  a^^( cnl  being  made  in  a 
sort  of  suinuuing  g\ralion  ;  though  while  near  the  surtace  ot 
the  earth  the  motion  of  the  wings  in  this  bird  is  ra])id  ami 
continuous. 

The  Sharp-shinned  is  the  commonest  Hawk  throughout  New 
Falkland  and  the  settled  portions  of  Canada,  and  breeds  southward 
to  the  Southern  States.      In  winter  it  ranges  south  to  Panama. 


> 


Mississii'i'i  Kin:. 

IlLUK    KITK. 

IciIW      MISSISSII'I'IKVSIS. 

Cmar.     General  cdlor  Miiisli-^ray,  liijlifor  on  the  head  .'iiul  seronrla- 
ries,  darker  on  piiniariLs  and  tail.     lAn,i;ili,  15  to  i^'i  intlus. 
M:if.     On  a  tree;  of  small  Micks,  lined  with  moss  and  leaves. 
/•-XvJ-     --^'<  bluish  white  ;  >i/i  variable,  averaging  i.f)^  X   1.35. 

'This  rrinark;il)ly  lonii- willed  ^hk!  hi'.-uilifiil  I  l;i\vk  docs  not 
appear  to  cMi'iid  its  miu'rations  far  within  tin:  United  Statt's. 
Wilson  obsiTM'd  it  ratlur  pUntiriil  about  and  hi-iow  Natchf/, 
in  the;  suiunuT  season,  saiUn^'  in  easy  <  ircles,  soinetinics  at 
a  great  elevation,  so  as  to  kii'p  ( onipany  with  the  Tiirkey 
r.ii/./ards  in  the  most  elevated  ri'^ions  of  the  air  ;  at  other  times 
they  were  seen  amoiv'  the  lofty  forest  trees,  liki-  Swallows 
sweej)inj<  alony.  and  < ollectinj,'  the  locnsts  {Ciiiu/n)  which 
swarmed  at  this  season.  .My  frii'tid  Mr.  Sav  observed  this 
species  pretty  far  up  the  Mississippi,  at  one  (»f  Maior  long's 
cantonments.  Diit  except  on  the  banks  of  this  great  ri\cr, 
it  is  rarely  seen  iven   in  the   most  southern  States.      Its  food. 


,5>     ^    .0.      ^^"         Q. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sdences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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38 


BIRDS    OF    I'REV. 


no  doubt,  abounds  more  along  the  iuimen.sc  valley  of  the  Mis- 
sissij^pi  than  in  the  interior  regions,  and,  besides  large  in- 
sects, probably  often  consists  of  small  birds,  lizards,  snakes, 
and  (jther  reptiles,  which  swarm  in  these  their  favorite  resorts. 
On  the  failure  of  food  these  birds  migrate  by  degrees  into  the 
Mexican  and  South  American  provinces,  and  were  observed 
by  D'Azara  in  (luiana,  about  the  latitude  of  7°.  According  to 
Audubon,  this  Kite  breeds  in  the  Southern  States  as  well  as 
in  Texas,  selecting  the  tall  magnolias  and  white-oaks.  From 
the  narrow  limits  within  which  this  bird  inhabits  in  the  United 
States,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the  princii)al  part  of  the 
species  are  constant  residents  in  the  warmer  parts  of  the  Ameri- 
can continent.     'I'hey  begin  to  migrate  early  in  August. 

The  range  of  this  species  is  given  as  "southern  United  States 
southward  from  South  Carolina,  and  Wisconsin  and  Iowa  to 
Mexico." 


WHITK-TAILKl)    KITK. 

BLACK-SHOULDERED    KITE. 
Elanus  LEUCURUS. 

("HAR.  General  color  bluish  gray  fading  to  white  on  head  and  tail  ;  a 
large  patch  of  black  on  shoulder;  lower  parts  white.  Length  15  to  \6}^ 
inches. 

A^esi.     In  a  tree,  loosely  built  of  sticks  and  leaves. 

E^i,'-gs.     2-4;  dull  white,  'icivily  blotched  with  brown,  1.60  x  1.25. 

This  beautiful  Hawk,  scarcely  distinguishable  from  a  second 
African  species  of  this  section,  chiefly  inhabits  the  continent 
of  South  America  as  far  as  Paraguay.  In  the  United  States  it 
is  only  seen  occasionally  in  the  peninsula  of  F'ast  Florida,  con- 
fining its  visits  almost  to  the  southern  extremity  of  the  Union. 
It  appears  to  be  very  shy  and  difficult  of  approach  ;  flying  in 
easy  circles  at  a  moderate  elevation,  or  at  times  seated  on  the 
deadened  branches  of  the  majestic  live-oak,  it  attentively 
watches  the   borders  of  the  salt-marshes  and  watery  situations 


I 


SWALLOW-TAII.KD    KITK. 


39 


lor  the  ficld-micc  of  th;it  country,  or  unwary  Sj);irro\vs,  tliat 
approach  its  perch.  The  bird  of  Africa  and  India  is  said  to 
titter  a  sharp  and  i)ier(in:4  <  ly,  which  is  oft'^n  repeated  wliilc 
the  bird  moves  in  the  air.  It  builds,  in  tlie  forks  of  trees,  a 
broad  and  shallow  nest,  lined  internally  with  moss  and  featiiers. 
A  jiair  have  been  known  to  breed  on  the  Santee  River  in  the 
month  of  March,  according  to  Audubon. 

This  Kite  occurs  regularly  in  tlie  Southern  States,  north  to 
South  Carolina,  and  Mr.  Ridgway  lias  met  with  it  in  southern 
Illinois,      It  extends  its  ranjio  westward  to  California. 


S\VAl,I,0\\-T.\ILEr)    KITI-:. 

E<ORK-TAILED    KITE. 

Ml,A\()H>FS    roRFFC.VrfS. 

f'HAR.  Head,  neck,  nniip.  and  lower  parts  wliite,  other  parts  black  ; 
tail  deeply  forked.     Length  19',  to  25;^  inches. 

jVest.     In  a  tree  .  of  sticks  and  moss,  lined  with  grass  and  leaves. 

^Ks'^-     2-3  ;  white,  with  buff  or  green  tinge,  spotted  with  va> ious  shades . 
of  Iirown  ;    1.85  X  1.50 

This  beautiful  Kite  breeds  and  passes  the  summer  in  the 
warmer  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  is  also  ])robal)Iy  resi- 
dent in  all  tropical  and  temperate  America,  migrating  into  the 
southern  as  well  as  the  northern  hemisphere.  In  the  former, 
according  to  Viellot,  it  is  found  in  Peru  and  as  far  as  Buenos 
Ayres ;  and  though  it  is  extremely  rare  to  meet  with  this 
species  as  far  as  the  latitude  of  40°  in  the  Atlantic  States, 
yet,  tempted  hy  the  abundance  of  the  fruitful  vallev  of  the 
Mississippi,  individuals  have  been  seen  along  that  river  as 
far  as  the  P'alls  of  St.  .Anthony,  in  the  44th  degree  of  north 
latitude.  Indeed,  according  to  Fleming  two  stragglers  have 
even  found  their  devious  way  to  the  strange  climate  of  (ireat 
Britain. 

These  Kites  appear  in  the  United  States  about  the  close  of 
April  or  beginning  of  May,  and  are  very  numerous  in  the  Mis- 


40 


MiRDs  oi'  v\u:v. 


sissij)))i  territory,  twenty  or  thirty  being  sometimes  \i-,il)li.'  at 
the  ^ame  tiiiK-  ;  ofirn  co'lecting  locusts  and  other  large  insects, 
which  i1k'\'  arc  said  to  feed  on  from  their  claws  while  llviny, 
at  times  also  seizing  upon  the  nests  of  locusts  and  wasps,  and, 
like  the  Honey  lUi/zard,  devouring  both  the  insects  and  their 
larvic.  Snakes  and  lizards  are  their  common  food  in  all  ])arts 
of  America.  In  the  month  of  October  they  begin  to  retire  to 
the  South,  at  which  season  Mr.  Uartram  observed  them  in 
great  numbers  assembled  in  Florida,  soaring  steadil)'  at  great 
elevations  for  several  days  in  succession,  and  slowl\-  passing 
towards  their  winter  (piarters  along  the  (lulf  of  Mexico.  I'^om 
the  other  States  they  migrate  early  in  September. 

Tills  species  is  most  abundant  in  the  western  division  of  tlie  Gulf 
States,  but  is  irregularly  distributed  over  the  Southern,  Western, 
and  Middle  States.  It  has  occasionally  visited  New  I'.ngland.  and 
examples  have  been  seen  in  Manitoba  and  near  London  and 
Ottawa  in  Ontario. 


!     ' 


EVERGL.ADE    KITE. 

BL.^CK    KITE.     HOOK-BILL   KIJ  K.     SN.VfL    HAWK, 
R(  )SIRHANIUS   SOCLAIil  LIS. 

Char.  Prevailing  color  dull  bluish  ash,  darker  on  tail,  wings,  and  an- 
lerior  portion  of  head  ;  rump  white,  with  terminal  bar  ot  ligiit  brown  ; 
bill  black  ;  feet  orange.      Length  i6  to  iS  inches. 

A't'st.  A  ijlatforiu  with  a  slight  de])ression,  composed  of  sticks  or  dried 
grass,  built  in  a  low  bush  or  amid  tall  grass. 

£i;!^s.  2-3;  brownish  white  blotched  with  various  shades  of  br(jwn ; 
1.70  X  I45- 

This  is  a  tropical  species  that  occurs  in  Florida.  Mr.  \V.  1!.  T). 
Scott  reports  finding  it  abundant  at  Panasofkee  Lake,  and  says  : 
"Their  food  at  this  point  apparently  consists  of  a  kind  of  large 
fresh  water  snail  which  is  very  abundant.  .  .  .  They  fish  over  the 
shallow  water,  reminding  one  of  gulls  in  their  motions;  and  iiaving 
seciired  a  snail  by  diving,  they  inuuediately  carry  it  to  the  nearest 
available  perch,  when  the  animal  is  dexterously  taken  from  the 
shell,  without  injury  to  the  latter." 


I 


-^K 


-c;-^-_e-.5' 


Y  -:\i^'  -^-T  Jf,'  :■ 


sm- 


"^ 


^v^A- 


^f.V: 


-.■\ 


'A^^ 


T). 


AMERKWN    ROUGH-LEGGi:U    HAWK. 

BLACK.    HAWK. 
ArCHIHUTKO    LAGOI'L'S    SAXCII-JOHAWIS. 

Char.  General  color  variable,  —  dark  or  ligiit  brown,  or  brownish  grav. 
sometimes  black  ;  all  tl;e  featluTs  ccP^ed  with  jiglitcr  color.  ])roducing  an 
afipearance  of  streaks.  The  a,,.  ..ue  of  these  streaks  on  the  belly  forms 
a  dark  band.  T.iil  with  dark  and  light  bars,  and  whitish  at  its  base. 
Easily  distinguished  from  any  other  Hawk  by  the  feathered  shank.  Lciigtli 
\'-)].2.  to  22  inches. 

Xcst.  In  a  large  tree,  or  on  rocks  ;  of  sticks  lined  with  grass,  drv 
moss,  and  feathers. 

Eg'^s.  2-3:  wiiite  iir  creaniv.  more  or  less  sjjotted  with  brown;  i  ()o 
X  1.55. 

This  remarkable  species  of  llu/./ard  appears  to  take  up  its 
residence  chiefly  in  the  northern  and  western  wilds  of  America. 
My  friend  Mr.  Townsend  found  its  nest  on  the  banks  of  IJear 
River,  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  nest,  formed  of 
large  sticks,  was  in  a  thick  willow  bush  about  ten  feet  from 
the  ground,  and  contained  two  young  almost  fledged.      It   is 


42 


r.IKDS    OF    TRKV. 


said  to  lay  four  eggs,  clcnulcd  with  redtlish.  It  i-.  comnioii 
al^o  to  the  nortli  of  I'jirope,  if  not  lo  Africa.  The  usual  station 
of  thesL'  birds  is  on  the  outskirts  of  woods,  in  the  neighborhood 
Oi  marshes, —  situations  suited  for  supplying  them  with  their 
usual  humble  ])re}- of  frogs,  mice,  reptiles,  and  straggling  birds, 
for  which  they  i)atiently  watch  for  hours  together,  from  daybreak 
to  late  twilight.  When  jire}-  is  perceived,  the  bird  takes  a  cau- 
tious, slow,  circuitous  course  near  the  surface,  and  sweeping  over 
the  s])()t  where  the  object  of  pursuit  is  lurking,  he  instantly 
grap])les  it.  and  Hies  off  to  consume  it  at  leisure.  Occasionally 
thc\'  feed  on  crabs  and  shell-fish.  'I'he  inclement  winters  of 
the  high  northern  regi(jns,  where  they  are  usually  bred,  failing 
to  afford  them  food,  they  are  under  the  necessity  of  making  a 
slow  migration  towards  those  countries  which  are  less  severe. 
According  to  Wilson,  no  less  than  from  twenty  to  thirty  young 
individuals  of  this  species  continued  regularly  to  take  up  their 
winter  (juarters  in  the  low  meadows  below  Philadel]>hia.  They 
are  never  observed  to  soar,  and  when  disturbed,  utter  a  loud, 
scpiealing  note,  and  only  pass  from  one  neighboring  tree  to 
another. 

The  great  variation  in  the  plumage  of  this  Hawk  has  been  the 
cause  of  considerable  controversy.  Wilson  wrote  of  the  black  and 
tlie-l^rown  phases  as  of  two  species,  giving  them  distinct  habits. 
Nuttall.  following  Audubon,  considered  the  changes  from  light  to 
dark  due  only  to  age.  Spencer  Baird  (in  1^58),  Cassin,  and  Dr. 
Brewer  agreed  with  Wilson.  Later  authorities,  however,  with 
more  material  to  aid  them,  have  pronounced  both  views  incorrect, 
and  have  decided  that  there  is  but  one  species,  —  that  the  black  is 
but  a  melanistic  phase.  Our  systematists  now  separate  the  Ameri- 
•can  from  the  ICurcpean  form,  giving  to  the  former  varietal  rank, 
as  its  "  trinomial  appellation  "  denotes. 

Nuttall  does  not  mention  the  occurrence  of  this  bird  in  Massa- 
chusetts, though  Dr.  Brewer  states  that  at  one  time  it  was  abun- 
dant near  Boston,  and  within  more  recent  years  numbers  have  been 
cajjtured  by  Mr.  K.  O.  Damon  on  the  Holyoke  Hilis,  near  Spring- 
tield.  It  occurs  within  the  United  States  principally  as  a  winter 
visitor  when  it  ranges  south  to  Virginia,  its  chief  breeding-ground 
lying  in  the  Labrador  and  Hudson  Bay  district. 


noii 

tioii 

ood 

u'ir 

rds, 

vak 

■au- 

)vcr 

mly 

tally 

\h  of 


RED-SHOULDERED    HAWK. 

WINTER   HAWK. 

Burr.o  lineatus. 

("har.  Adult;  general  color  dark  reddish  brown;  head  and  neck  ru- 
fous ;  below,  lighter,  with  dark  streaks  and  light  bars  :  wings  and  tail 
black  with  white  bars  ;  lesser  wing-coverts  chestnut.  Young,  with  little 
of  the  rufous  tinge  .  below,  buffy  with  dark  streaks,  Length  ig  to  22 
inches. 

jVesL  In  a  tree;  of  loosely  arranged  twigs,  lined  with  grass  and 
feathers. 

Ei^'X'-s.     2-4  ;  bluish  white  or  buffy  blotched  with  brown  ;  2.20  X  1.70. 

This  very  elegant  Hawk  does  not  migrate  or  inhabit  very 
far  to  the  north.  It  is  never  seen  in  Massachusetts,  nor  per- 
haps much  farther  than  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  In  the 
Southern  States,  during  winter,  these  birds  are  very  common  in 
swampy  situations,  where  their  quailing  cry  of  mutual  recogni- 
tion may  be  heard  from  the  depths  of  the  dark  forest  almost 


44 


r.lKDS    OF   I'RKV 


every  mornii\u  of  the  season.  This  plaintive  e»  honiLi  note 
resembles  somewhat  the  garrulous  com])laint  of  the  Jay,  /:iy-<uK 
kii-oo,  kt('-(>('>,  ((jntinued  witii  but  little  intermissicMi  sometimes 
for  iK'ar  twenty  minutes.  At  length  it  beeomes  loud  and  im- 
|)atient ;  but  on  being  distantly  answered  by  the  mate,  tlie 
sound  softens  and  becomes  plainti\e  like  {'ii-oc.  I'his  morn- 
ing call  is  uttered  most  loudly  and  incessantly  by  the  male. 
in(|uiring  for  his  adventurous  mate,  wnom  the  uncertain  result 
of  the  c'lase  has  perhaps  separated  'Vom  him  lor  the  night. 
.\s  this  species  is  noways  shy,  and  very  easily  approached,  1 
have  had  the  opportunity  of  studying  it  closely.  At  length, 
but  ill  no  haste,  1  observed  the  female  approach  and  take  her 
stati(jn  on  the  same  lofty,  decayed  limb  with  her  companion, 
who,  grateful  for  this  attention,  phnned  the  feathers  of  his 
mate  with  all  the  assiduous  fondness  of  a  1  )ove.  Intent  uj)on 
her  meal,  however,  she  soon  flew  off  to  a  distance,  while  the 
male  still  remained  on  his  perch,  dressing  up  his  bei'utiful 
feathers  for  near  half  an  hour,  ot'ten  shaking  his  tail,  like  some 
of  the  lesser  birds,  and  occasionally  taking  an  indifferent  sur- 
vey of  the  hosts  of  small  chirping  birds  which  surrounded  him, 
who  followed  without  alarm  their  occupation  of  gleaning  seeds 
and  berries  for  subsistence.  I  have  occasionallv  observed 
them  j)erched  on  low  bushes  and  stakes  in  the  rice-fields,  re- 
maining thus  for  half  an  hour  at  a  time,  and  then  darting  after 
their  prey  as  it  comes  in  sight.  I  saw  one  descend  upon  a 
Plover,  as  I  thought,  and  Wilson  remarks  their  living  on  these 
birds,  Larks,  and  Sandpi])ers.  'J"he  same  pair  that  I  watched 
also  hung  on  the  rear  of  a  flock  of  cow-buntings  which  were 
feeding  and  scratching  around  diem.  They  sometimes  attack 
s(iuirrels,  as  I  have  been  informed,  and  Wilson  charges  them 
with  preying  also   upon   Ducks. 

I  never  observed  them  to  soar,  at  least  in  winter,  their  time 
being  passed  very  much  in  indolence  and  in  watching  for 
their  game.  Thei"  flight  is  almost  as  easy  and  noiseless  as 
that  of  the  Owl.  In  the  early  part  of  the  month  of  March 
they  were  breeding  in  West  Florida,  and  seemed  to  choose 
the  densest  thickets  and  not  to  build  at  anv  jjreat  heischt  from 


RED-SHOl  l.DERKD    HAWK. 


45 


the  ground.     On  afiproachitiL':  these  places,  the  k(r-,>o  became 
very  louil  and  angry. 

ll'inhr  Hiuck. —  i ;  larLje  American  liu^/.ard  is  not  un- 
common m  this  vicinity,  as  well  as  in  the  neighborhood  ot 
I'hiladv-lphia,  where  Wilson  met  with  it  along  the  marshes  and 
meadows,  feeding  almost  wholly  upon  frogs.  It  is  abundant 
toward  winter.  It  appears  to  have  very  much  the  manners 
of  the  Kuro])ean  liu/./.anl,  remaining  inactive  for  hours  to- 
gether on  the  edges  of  wet  meadows,  perched  upon  the  larger 
limb>  of  trees,  and  ut  times  keeping  up  a  regular  quailing  and 
rather  hoarse  kci.;h-oo,  kcityh-oo,  which  at  inten-als  is  answered 
by  the  mate.  When  a])proached,  it  commonly  steals  off  to 
some  other  tree  at  no  great  disumce  from  the  first  ;  but  it 
the  pursuit  be  continued,  it  flies  out  and  hovers  at  a  consider- 
able height.  It  is  aht>  an  inhabitant  of  Hudson's  Bay  and 
Nev\1oundland. 

Xuttall  regarded  the  c'd  and  yotmg  as  distinct  species,  giving 
to  thetn  not  only  distinctive  names,  but  a  ditierent  distribution. 
Taken  toiiether.  liis  two  biographies  tell  about  all  that  is  yet  known 
of  the  habits  and  range  of  the  species.  It  is  found  throughout  this 
faunal  province,  from  the  Gulf  States  to  the  scuthern  border  of  the 
fur  countries,  has  Ijeen  taken  at  York  Factory  on  Hudson's  Bay, 
and  is  common  in  Manitoba. 


Note. —  The  Florida  Red-Shouldeked  Hawk  (Bnteo  linea- 
tus  alhni)  is  a  Southern  form  found  in  Florida,  and  rangincj  on 
the  Atlantic  shore  north  to  South  Carolina  and  along  the  Gulf 
coast  to  Texas.  It  differs  from  true  lineatus  in  having  the  rufous 
tb  ..-e  on  the  head  and  neck  replaced  by  brownish  gray. 


46 


lUKDS    (•!     I'UKV. 


HARRIS'S    HAWK. 

PAriAIin!  ()  INK  iM-n  s   ii  akkisi. 

CllAK.  Prevailing  color  black,  soniL-timcs  clujcoiatc  biowii,  tingLrl  with 
chestnut  on  the  runij) ;  slioiiUler.s  and  lining  of  wings  chestnnt ;  tail-C(i\  oris, 
base  of  tail,  and  terminal  band,  white.     Length  about  jo  inches. 

A't'.''/.  On  a  cliff  or  in  a  tree, —  usually  the  latter;  a  mere  pi  itfoiin  of 
twigs  and  roots,  lined  with  grass. 

A;';v.r.  j-5  (usually  3^  ;  whi'e,  tinged  wiili  yellow,  souietiines  marked 
with  brown  or  lavender,  or  both  ,  J.  15  X  1(15. 

Harris'.s  Hawk  is  abiiiulant  in  parts  of  Texas  and  in  Mixicn, 
and  occurs  in  small  numbers  in  tbe  soiitlicm  part  ot"  Mississi|)pi. 
It  IS  usually  represented  as  a  ratlicr  shi,i(,i;isb  bird,  associ.it ini;  with 
the  Vultures  and  joininij  in  their  feasts  of  carrion,  but  sometimes 
prcvinjj;  upon  the  small  reptiles  that  infest  the  banks  of  streams 
and  pools.  Mr.  .Semiett.  however,  describes  those  he  saw  alonj; 
the  lower  Rio  (irande  as  more  active,  feedinjj;  chiefly  on  birds. 
mice,  and  <(ophers. 


t    i 


Ri:i)-TAII.KI)    H.\WK. 

BUIEO    I!UKI:AI.I^:. 

Char.  Above,  dull  brown  streaked  with  rufous  and  grayish;  below, 
whitish  or  tawny  streaked  with  brown;  tail  chestnut  al)ove  and  gray 
beneath,  with  a  band  of  black  near  the  end  and  tipped  with  white.  In 
the  young  the  tail  is  grayish  brown  crossed  bv  some  nine  dark  bars, 
and  the  undcrparts  are  white  with  brown  streaks.  Length  rg!^  to  23 
inches. 

yVt.v/.  In  a  high  tree;  of  sticks,  lined  with  grass,  sometimes  with 
feathers. 

/•.";;;',(.  2-4  ;  whitish  or  bluish  white,  usually  heavily  spotted  or  blotched 
with  reddish  brown  ;  -  30  X  i.So. 

This  beautiful  Buzzard  inhabits  most  parts  of  the  United 
States,  being  obser\ed  from  Canada  to  Florida ;  also,  far 
westward  up  the  Missouri,  and  even  on  the  coasts  of  the 
northern  Pacific  Ocean,  by  Lewis  and  Clarke.  Wilson  found 
the  young  to  be  fully  grown  in  the  month  of  May,  about 
latitude  31°  on  the  banks  of  the  IMississii)pi  ;  at  this  j)eriod 
they  were  very  noisy  and  clamorous,  keeping  up  an  inces- 
sant squealing.      It  also  occasionally  nests  and  breeds  in  large 


i<En-'rAii.i;iJ  hawk. 


47 


trccs    in  the  sechidcd    forests  of   iliis   part   of  Mnssitchiisctts. 
The  young  birds  soon  become  very  submissive,  and  allow  them- 
selves to  be  handled  with   impunity  by  those  who  feed  them. 
'I'he  oldiT  l)irds  sometinus  i:ontest  with   i-ac  h  other  in  the  air 
about  their  prey,  and  nearly  or  wholl\    descend   to  the  earth 
grajjpled  in  each  other's  talons.     Though  this  species  has  tin- 
general  aspect  of  tile   i!u//ard.  its  manners  are  \ery  similar  to 
those   of   the   ( loshawjc  ;    it    is   iM|uaii\-    fien  e    aiKl    pre<iatory, 
prowling  around    the    farm    often    when    straitened    for  food, 
and  seizing,  now  and  tln-n,  a  hen  or  chi(  ken,  whic  h  it  snatches 
l)y  making  a  lateral  approach  :    it   sweeps  along  near  the  sur- 
face of  the  ground,  and  grasping  its  prey  in  its  talons,  1)ears  it 
away  U)  devour  in  some  i)lace  of  security.     These  dejjredations 
on  the   farm-yard  happen,  however,  only  in  tlu'  winter ;   at  all 
(jther    seasons    this    is    one    of   the   shyest    and   most  difticult 
l)irds  to  approach.      It  will  at  times  ])ounce  upon   rabbits  and 
considerable-sized    birds,    ])articularly     Larks,    and    has    been 
observed    in    the    Southeni     Slates    i)(.'rseveringly    to    ])ursue 
sijuirrels  from  bough  to  bough  until  they  are  overtaken  and 
seized  in  the  talons.     It  is  frequently  seen  near  wet  meadows 
where  mice,   moles,  and   frogs  are   ])revalent,   and  also  feeds 
upon   lizards,  —  appearing,    indeed,    often    content    with    the 
most  humble  game. 

They  usually  associate  in  pairs,  and  seem  much  attached  to 
each  other;  yet  they  often  find  it  convenient  and  profitable  to 
separate  in  hunting  their  prey,  about  which  they  would  readily 
(juarrel  if  brought  into  contact.  Though  a  good  deal  of  their 
time  passes  in  indolence,  while  ]ierched  in  some  tall  and  dead- 
ened tree,  yet  at  others  they  may  Ix;  seen  beating  the  ground 
as  they  tly  over  it  in  all  directions  in  (piest  of  game.  On  some 
occasions  they  amuse  themselves  by  ascending  to  a  vast  eleva- 
tion, like  the  aspiring  I'lagle.  On  a  fine  evening,  about  the 
middle  of  January,  in  South  Carolina,  I  observed  one  of  these 
birds  leave  its  withered  perch,  and  soaring  aloft  over  the  wild 
landscape,  in  a  mood  t)f  contemplation,  begin  to  ascend 
towards  the  thin  skirting  of  elevated  clouds  above  him.  At 
length   he  passed  this  sublime  boundary,   and   was  now  per- 


il 


4S 


IlIRDS  OI'   i'Ri:v. 


(  eiveil  nnd  soon  followed  by  his  ambitious  iiute,  and  \n  a  little 
limi',  by  circular  ascending'  gyrations,  tho)'  both  disappeared  in 
the  clear  azure  of  the  heavens  ;  and  thou[;h  I  waited  for  their 
re-appearance  half  an  hour,  they  still  continiieil  to  be  wholly 
invisible.  This  amusement,  or  predilection  for  the  cooler 
regions  of  the  atmosphere,  seems  mc^re  or  less  common  to  all 
the  ra|)acious  birds.  In  numerous  instances  this  exercise  must 
be  whollv  independent  of  the  inclinati(jn  f(;r  surveying  their 
prey,  as  i\-\\  t)f  them  besides  the  Falcon  des(  end  direct  ujjon 
their  (juarry.  Many,  as  well  as  the  present  species,  when  on 
the  prowl  l1y  near  to  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  often  wait 
and  wat(  h  so  as  to  steal  upon  their  victims  before  they  can 
take  the  alarm.  Indeed  the  Condor  frecjuents  and  nests  upon 
the  summit  of  the  Andes,  above  which  they  are  seen  to  soar 
m  the  boundless  ocean  of  space,  enjoying  the  invigorating  and 
rarefied  atmosphere,  and  only  descending  to  the  plains  when 
impelled  by  the  cravings  of  hunger. 

Tlu'  l!astcrn  variety  of  the  Red-tail  is  a  common  bird  through- 
out eastern  North  America  north  to  about  latitude  49°,  and  was 
taken  by  Dr.  I>ell  at  Fort  Churchill,  on  Hudson's  Hay.  It  ranges 
westward  to  the  (ireat  I'lains,  where  it  is  replaced  by  the  sub- 
species krideri.  From  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  Pacific  it  is 
represented  by  calunis,  and  examples  of  this  latter  variety  have 
been  taken,  occasionally,  as  far  east  as  Illinois.  The  Red-tail  is  a 
summer  resident  only  of  the  Maritime  Provinces,  but  a  few  are 
found  in  winter  in  southern  Ontario  and  New  En";land. 


NoTi..  —  Mr.  Ridgway  now  considers  Harlan's  Hawk  to  be 
a  variety  of  the  Red-tail,  and  he  proposes  to  name  it  Bntco  borealis 
liarlani.  Its  usual  habitat  is  along  the  lower  Mississippi :  but  exam- 
ples have  been  taken  in  Illinois,  Iowa,  Pennsylvania,  and  Georgia. 

Capt.  Bendine  reports  that  Kuidek's  Hawk  (/>'.  /',  Krideri) 
occurs  in  Iowa  and  northern  Illinois.  (Life  Histories  of  North 
American  Birds.) 

Two  examples  of  Swainson's  Hawk  (^Buteo  suiainsoni)^  a 
Western  species,  have  been  taken  in  Massachusetts, — one  at 
Wayland  in  1876,  and  the  other  near  Salem  in  1878. 


a 

at 


BROAD  \VIN(;i;i)    HAWK. 

TjI'IIO    I.A'IISSIMIS. 

Chak.  Above,  dull  brown,  the  feathers  with  paler  edges;  tail  dusky 
with  toui  light  bars  aiul  lipijcti  vvitii  wiiite  ;  below,  bulti^h  or  tawny,  barred 
and  streaked  with  rufous.  Length  lO  inclies.  Vouiig  :  similar,  Ijut  tail 
brownish,  with  several  dusky  liars  ;  below  bulTy  streaked  with  dusky. 

.Visf.  In  a  tree  ;  loosely  built  of  twigs,  and  lined  with  leaves  and 
feathers. 

A^i,'.?.  2-4  ;  buttisl:.  blotched  with  reddish  brown  of  various  shades  ; 
1.90  X  1.55. 

This  species  was  obtnined  b\  \\'ilsf)n.  in  the  vicinity  of 
I*hila(le]]>hia,  in  the  act  of  feedini^  on  a  meadow-nioiise.  On 
beinu^  ap])r()ache(l,  it  nttereil  a  whininij;  whistle  and  flew  U) 
another  tree,  where  it  was  shot.  Its  great  breadth  (jf  wing,  as 
well  as  of  the  head  and  body,  compared  with  its  length,  aj)- 
pears  remarkably  characteristic.  The  following  day  the  mate 
was.obser\-ed  sailing  in  wide  circles,  the  wings  scarcely  moving, 
and  presenting  almost  a  semi-circular  outline.  These  two  in- 
dividuals appear  to  be  all  that  were  known  to  Wilson  of  this 
Vu:  .1.  —  4 


itl 


»l 


50 


BIRDS    oi-    I'kEV. 


spfcies.  Audubon  considers  it  by  no  nuvuis  a  rare  s[)ecics 
in  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  all  the  States  to  the  eastwartl  of 
these.  Its  usual  i)re\'  is  small  birds,  very  young  poultry,  small 
(juatlrupeds,  and  insects. 

The  Broad-wing  occurs  throughout  tliis  eastern  faunal  province, 
but  is  somewhat  local  in  distribution.  In  jjortions  of  tlie  Maritime 
Provinces  it  is  abundant,  thougli  in  general  it  is  rather  uncommon. 
.Mr.  John  Neilson  considers  it  common  near  the  city  of  Ouet)ec,  but 
.Mr.  Ernest  Wintle  reports  it  rare  at  Montreal,  while  Mr.  William 
L.  Scott  thinks  it  the  commonest  Hawk  in  the  Ottawa  valley.  Mr. 
Thomas  .Mcllwraith  gives  it  as  a  "casual  visitor"  to  the  southern 
jjortions  of  Ontario,  and  Mr.  ICrnesl  Thompson  found  it  abundant 
in  the  Muskoka  district.  Thompson  also  reports  it  common  in 
.Manitoba. 

In  the  more  northern  portions  of  New  England  it  is  a  fairly 
common  sun.mer  visitor,  while  it  is  found  in  Massachusetts  and 
Connecticut  throughout  the  yeir,  but  is  rather  rare.  It  occurs 
also  in  more  or  less  abundance  in  all  the  Middle,  Western,  and 
Southern  St.ites. 

My  observatioiis  in  New  Brunswick  have  led  me  to  form  a  dif- 
ferent opinion  of  the  characteristics  of  this  Hawk  from  those 
expressed  by  several  writers.  The  examples  I  met  with  were  not 
peculiarly  void  of  eitlier  boldness  or  vigor  in  pursuit  of  their  prey, 
nor  peculiarly  spiritless  when  wounded.  They  ilid,  of  course,  like 
others  of  the  tribe,  pursue  weak  prey,  and  displayed  little  true 
bravery:  but  bravery  is  not  a  characteristic  of  the  Hawks.  A 
wounded  Broad-wing,  however,  acts  just  as  does  the  l)oldest  of 
thom,  —  he  turns  on  his  back  and  hits  out  with  claws,  beak,  and 
wings  :  and  the  gunner  who  thinks  he  has  a  meek  or  spiritless  bird 
to  handle  mav  retrret  the  thoutrht. 


SHORT- TAIEKI)    H.\WK. 
l-)t"'i  K( )  I'.K.Aciivrkrs. 

Cn.\R.  Above,  brownish  bhick  or  blackish  brown  ;  forche.id  anil  cheeks 
white;  tail  h.ownish  gray  barred  with  black  and  tipped  with  white; 
beneath,  pure  white,  a  patch  of  riifms  on  side  of  chest.  Length  16 
inches. 

AV.vA  In  a  tall  tree;  made  of  dry  twig.s,  lined  with  fresh  twigs  of 
cypress. 

-'^.W-f-      i~3  ;  dull  white,  s]50ttcd  on  lavue  end  with  reddish  ^rown. 


MARSH    HAWK. 


51 


The  black  and  brown  phases  of  plumage  worn  by  tliis  bird  have 
caused  the  scientific  ornitholo<,Msts  no  httlc  p'.Tplcxi'.v,  and  been  tiie 
sul)ject  of  some  controversy:  so  a  l)rief  summary  of  tiie  various 
opinions  held  may  serve  as  an  illustration  of  the  evolution  of  many 
scientific  names. 

The  species  was  first  described  from  a  specimen  in  brown  plu- 
mage and  given  the  name  it  now  bears  ;  then  a  young  bird  came 
into  the  hands  of  another  systcmatist.  and  supjiusing  it  to  be  a  new 
species,  he  named  it  B.  oxypttrus ;  and  afterwards  an  example  in 
black  was  taken  by  still  another,  who  supjjosed  it  to  be  something 
new.  so  he  wrote  it  down  B.  /ii/ii^inosiis.  These  two  last-men- 
tioned were  disposed  of  by  other  writers  as  svnonyms  of  stiui/h- 
soni,  oxyptcnis  being  considered  the  young  plumage,  and  fulii^i- 
itosHS  a  melanistic  phase,  while  in  several  more  recent  works  the 
latter,  as  the  Little  Black  Hawk,  was  restored  to  specific  rank. 
These  opinions  have  recently  been  abandoned  for  that  which  lias 
been  held  for  a  long  time  by  the  few.  —  tliat  both  fulia^inostts  and 
oxypicriis  are  synonyms  of  the  present  species. 

It  cannot,  however,  be  said  that  the  matter  is  finally  adjusted,  for 
the  black  color  still  presents  this  problem  :  Is  it  individual  or  sex- 
ual, —  a  melanistic  phase,  or  the  normal  color  of  the  adult  male  .' 

The  bird  is  entirely  tropical  in  its  range,  and  is  found  within  the 
United  States  only  in  the  tropical  portions  of  Florida.  It  was  sup- 
posed formerly  to  occur  there  merely  as  a  casual  or  accidental 
straggler:  but  recent  ol:)servations  have  proved  it  to  be  a  regular 
though  uncommon  visitor,  and  breeding  there. 


MARSH    HAWK. 


o{ 


marsh  harrier.   blue  hawk. 
Circus  hudsonius. 

Char.  Adult  male  :  above,  bluish  gray;  tail  with  dark  bands  ;  rump 
white  ;  beneath  white,  .\dult  female  and  young :  above,  dark  brown 
streaked  with  rufous;  tail  with  dark  bands;  rump  white  ;  beneath,  tawny 
with  dark  streaks.     Length  19  to  24  inches. 

Nest.  On  the  ground,  in  damji  meadow  or  cedar  swamp  ;  a  loosely 
arranged  platform  of  dried  grass  some  four  to  six  inches  high,  with  little 
depression,  occasionally  lined  with  softer  material. 

^Sg^-  3-S;  bhiish  white,  .sonietinies  spotted  with  huffish  or  brown; 
l.Sc  X  1.40. 


52 


I5IRDS   OF    I'REV. 


This  species  is  common  to  the  northern  and  temperate,  as 
well  as  the  warmer  parts  of  the  old  and  new  continents,  being 
met  with  in  Europe,  Africa,  South  America,  and  the  West 
Indies.  In  the  winter  season  it  extends  its  peregrinations 
from  Hudson's  Ikiy  to  the  Oregon  territory  and  the  southern 
parts  of  the  United  States,  frecjuenting  chiefly  open,  low,  and 
marshy  situations,  over  which  it  sweeps  or  skims  along,  at  a 
little  distance  usually  from  the  ground,  in  (piest  of  mice,  small 
birds,  frogs,  Hzards,  and  other  reptiles,  which  it  often  selects 
by  twilight  as  well  as  in  the  open  day  ;  and  at  times,  pressed 
by  hunger,  it  is  said  to  join  the  Owls  and  seek  out  its  ])rey 
even  by  moonlight.  Instances  have  been  known  in  England 
in  which  this  bird  has  carried  its  temerity  so  far  as  to  pursue 
the  same  game  with  the  armed  fowler,  and  even  snatch  it  from 
his  grasp  after  calmly  wailing  for  it  to  be  shot,  and  without 
even  betraying  timidity  at  the  report  of  the  gun.  The  nest  if 
this  species  is  made  on  th',  ground,  in  swampy  woods  or 
among  rushes,  occasionally  also  under  the  protection  of  rocky 
precipices,  and  is  said  to  be  formed  of  sticks,  reeds,  leaves, 
straw,  and  similar  materials  heaped  together,  and  finished  with 
a  lining  of  feathers,  hair,  or  other  soft  substances.  In  the 
/^  cuwrdfeus,  so  nearly  related  to  this  species,  the  eggs  are  of 
a  pure  white.  When  their  young  are  approached,  the  parents, 
hovering  round  the  intruder  and  uttering  a  sort  of  uncouth 
syllable,  like  gCiJ^  g('i^  ^(1^:;,  or  ^i^c  gc  ne  ge  ge,  seem  full  of  afright 
and  anxiety.  The  Crows,  however,  are  their  greatest  enemies, 
and  'they  often  succeed  in  demolishing  the  nests.  The  young 
are  easily  tamed,  and  feed  almost  immediately  without  exhib- 
iting any  signs  of  fear. 

Nuttall  has  told  about  ail  tliat  more  modern  observers  have  to 
tell  of  this  species.  The  authorities  differ  chieHy  in  descriptions  of 
the  structure  of  the  nest  and  the  markings  on  the  eggs.  The  nests 
that  I  have  examined  have  been  composed  entirely  of  coarse  grass, 
witliout  'ining,  though  the  softest  of  the  grass  was  laid  on  top. 
The  eggs  were  unspotted. 


HAWK   OWL. 

SURNLA    UI.LI.A    CAl'AKOCH. 

Char.  Above,  dull  blackish  brown,  spotted  with  white  ;  crown  without 
spots;  dark  patch  on  the  cheeks;  face  white,  the  feathers  with  dark 
margins;  tail  and  wing  with  white  bars;  below,  white  with  dark  bars. 
Length  14-V  to  17 }<  inches. 

JVi's/.     On  a  tree;  of  twigs  lined  with  feathers. 

/;>^j.     2-7;  dull  while  ;   1.55  X  1.25. 

This  remarkable  species,  forming  a  connecting  link  with 
the  preceding  genus  of  the  Hawks,  is  nearly  confined  to  the 
Arctic  wilds  of  both  continents,  being  frequent  in  Siberia  and 
the  fur  countries  from  Hudson's  liay  to  the  Pacific.  A  few 
stragglers,  now  and  then,  at  distant  intervals  and  in  the  depths 
of  winter,  penetrate  on  the  one  side  into  the  northern  parts  of 
the  United  States,  and  on  the  other  they  occasionally  appear 
in  Germany,  and  more  rarely  in  France.  At  Hudson's  Bay 
they  are  observed  by  day  Hying  high  and  preying  on  the  White 
(rrouse  and  other  birds,  sometimes  even  attending  the  hunter 
like  a  Falcon,  and  boldly  taking  \ip  the  wounded  game  as  it 


54 


I![RI)S    OF    I'RFA'. 


\     <    il 


flutters  on  the  ground.  They  are  also  salt  I  l<j  f-jed  on  mice 
and  insects,  and  (according  to  Meyer)  they  nest  upon  trees, 
laying  two  white  eggs.  'I'hey  are  said  to  be  constant  atten- 
dants on  the  Ptarmigans  in  their  spring  migrations  towards  the 
North,  and  are  observed  to  hover  round  the  camp-fires  of  the 
natives,  in  (juest  probably  of  any  offal  or  rejected  game. 

In  Massachusetts  and  the  more  southern  portions  of  New  Eng- 
land tlie  Hawk  Owl  is  only  an  occasional  winter  visitor ;  hut  in 
northern  New  England  and  the  Maritime  Provinces  it  occurs  regu- 
larly, though  of  varying  abundance,  in  some  seasons  being  cjuite 
rare.  It  is  fairly  common  near  Montreal,  and  rare  in  Ontario  and 
in  Ohio.  Thompson  reports  it  abundant  in  Manitoba,  but  only 
one  example  has  been  taken  in  Illinois  {Ridi^way).  It  breeds  in 
Newfoundland,  the  .Magdalen  Islands,  and  northern  Manitoba, 
and  north  to  sub-arctic  rcirions. 


\U^ 


.^^^■iil^>l^^ 


SNOWY    OWL. 

NvciEA  x\-c'ri:.\. 

Char.  Geiier:\1  color  pure  white,  w'tli  markings  of  dull  brown  or 
brownish  black,  the  abundance  and  shade  of  the  spots  varying  with  age. 
A  large,  stout  bird.      Length  23  to  27  inches. 

Nt'sl.     On  the  ground,  of  twigs  and  grass,  lined  with  feathers. 

-^v"''-     5 ''J  10 ;  white;  2.55  X  190. 

This  very  large  and  often  snow-white  species  of  Owl  is 
ilmost  an  exclusive  inhabitant  of  the  .Arctic  regions  of  both 
continents,  being  common  in  Iceland,  the  Shetland  Islands. 
Kamtschatka,  Lapland,  and  Hudson's  Day.  In  these  dreary 
wilds,  surrotmded  by  an  almost  perpetual  winter,  he  dwells, 
breeds,  and  obtains  his  subsistence.     His  white  robe  renders 


^6 


IJIRDS    OK    I'RKV. 


!f 


him  scarcely  discernible  from  the  overwhelming  snows,  wlierc 
he  reigns,  like  the  boreal  spirit  of  the  storm.  His  loud,  hol- 
low, barking  growl,  'lolwwh,  'ivhmvh,  "ivlunok  hdli,  hah,  hah, 
/id/i,^  and  other  more  dismal  cries,  sound  like  the  unearthly 
ban  of  Cerberus  ;  and  heard  amidst  a  region  of  cheerless  soli- 
tude, his  lonely  and  terrific  voice  augments  ratlier  than  relieves 
the  horrors  of  the  scene. 

Clothed  with  a  ilense  coating  of  feathers,  which  hide  even 
the  nostrils,  ant'  leave  only  the  talons  exposed,  he  ventures 
abroad  boldly  at  '11  seasons,  and,  like  the  Hawks,  seeks  his 
prey  by  daylight  as  well  as  dark,  skimming  aloft  and  reconnoi- 
tring his  prey,  whit;h  is  commonly  the  \\'hite  (iroiise  or  some 
other  birds  of  the  same  genus,  as  well  as  hares.  (Jn  these  he 
tlarts  from  above,  and  rapidly  seizes  them  m  his  resistless 
talons.  At  times  he  watches  for  fish,  and  condescends  also  \o 
prey  upon  rats,  mice,  and  even  carrion. 

These  birds  ajjpear  to  have  a  natural  aversion  to  settled 
countries  ;  for  which  reason,  perhaps,  and  the  sc*-erity  of  the 
climate  of  Arctic  America,  they  are  freciuently  known  to  wander 
in  the  winter  south  through  the  thinly  settled  interior  of  the 
United  States.  They  n  igrate  probably  by  ])airs  ;  and  accord- 
ing to  Wilson,  two  of  these  l)irds  were  so  stuiiid,  or  dazzled, 
as  to  alight  on  the  roof  of  the  court-house  in  the  large  town  of 
Cincinnati.  In  South  Carolina  Dr.  Carden  saw  them  occa- 
sionally, and  they  were,  in  this  mild  region,  observed  to  hide 
themselves  during  the  da^'  in  the  palmetto-groves  of  the  sea- 
coast,  and  only  sallied  out  towards  night  in  quest  of  their  prey. 
Their  habits,  therefore,  seem  to  vary  considerably,  according 
to  circumstances  and  climate. 

This  species  is  a  regular  winter  visitor  to  the  Northern  and 
Middle  States,  and  duruig  some  seasons  has  been  quite  abundant. 
A  few  pairs  have  been  seen  in  summer  in  northern  Maine,  New 
Brunswick,  and  Nova  Scotia:  hut  the  usual  breeding-ground  is 
from  about  latitude  50^  to  the  Arctic  regions. 

While  in  their  more  southern  resorts  tliey  are  rarely  found  far 
from  the  forest  districts. 

^  These  latter  syllables  with  the  usual  quivering  sound  of  the  Owl. 


IS 


SCREECH    OWL. 

MOTTLED    OWL,     RED   OWL. 

Mkc;.\scops  asio. 

Char.  Of  two  phases,  brownish  gray  and  brownish  red.  Above, 
mottled  with  darker  shades  of  the  prevailing  cohjr  and  with  blacixish  ; 
below,  dull  whitish  or  with  a  rufous  tint  aud  heavily  marked  with  dull 
brown  or  blackish.  In  highly  colored  red  examples  the  spots  arc  less 
frequent.  Large  ear  tufts  ;  wings  and  tail  barred  with  the  light  and  dark 
colors  ;  legs  feathered  and  toes  bristled.     Length  7  to  10  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  hollow  tree  or  stump  ;  the  bottom  of  the  hole  slightly  lined 
with  leaves  or  feathers. 

E,^-gs.     4-S  ;  white,  nearly  round  ;  1.35  X  1.20. 

Mottled  0-ivl.  —  This  common,  small,  and  handsome  species, 
known  as  the  Little  Screech  Owl,  is  probably  resident  in  every 
part  of  the  United  States,  and,  in  fact,  inhabits  from  Greenland 
to  Florida,  and  westward  to  the  Oregon,  It  appears  more 
abimdant  in  autumn  and  winter,  as  at  those  seasons,  food  fail- 


1 1 


;8 


ISIRDS    OF    I'RKN' 


!     I 


ii\U,  it  is  obli.m'd  to  apjjnjach  habitations  and  barns,  in  wliich 
\hv  uiUv  it  chirtly  prejs  on  now  assemble  ;  it  also  lies  in  wait 
for  small  birds,  and  fee(U  on  beetles,  crickets,  and  other  in- 
sects. The  nest  is  usually  in  the  hollow  of  an  old  orchard  tree, 
about  the  months  of  May  or  June  ;  it  is  lined  carelessly  with 
a  Httlc  hay,  lea\es,  and  feathers,  and  the  eggs  are  commonly 
four  to  six,  white,  and  nearly  round.  Aldrovandus  remarks 
that  the  (Ireat  Hornetl  Owl  provides  so  i)lentifully  for  its 
young  that  a  person  might  obtain  some  dainties  from  the 
nest,  and  yet  leave  a  sufficiency  for  the  Owlets  besides.  I'he 
same  remark  may  also  ajjply  to  this  species,  as  in  the  hollow 
stuniji  of  an  apple-tree,  which  contained  a  brood  of  these 
young  Owls,  were  found  several  Iliuebirds,  lUackbinls,  and 
Song   S])arrows.  intended  as  a  supply  of  food. 

l)uring  the  day  these  birds  retire  into  hollow  trees  and  un- 
frequented barns,  or  hide  in  the  thickest  evergreens.  At  times 
they  are  seen  abroad  by  day,  and  in  cloudy  weather  they  wake 
up  from  their  diurnal  slumbers  a  considerable  time  before 
(lark.  In  the  (kiy  they  are  always  drowsy,  or,  as  if  dozing, 
closing,  or  scarcely  half  opening  their  heavv  eyes,  presenting 
the  very  picture  of  sloth  and  nightly  dissipation.  When  i)er- 
ceived  by  the  smaller  birds,  they  are  at  once  recognized  as 
their  insidious  enemies ;  and  the  rareness  of  their  apjjearance, 
before  the  usual  roosting-time  of  other  birds,  augments  the 
suspicion  they  entertain  of  these  feline  hunters.  From  com- 
plaints and  cries  of  alarm,  the  Thrush  sometimes  threatens 
blows  :  and  though  evening  has  perhaps  set  in,  th«.  snialler 
birds  and  cackling  Robins  re-echo  their  shrill  chirpings  and 
complaints  throughout  an  extensive  wood,  until  the  nocturnal 
monster  has  to  seek  safety  in  a  distant  flight.  Their  notes  are 
most  frecpient  in  the  latter  end  of  summer  and  autunm,  crying 
in  a  sort  of  wailing  quiver,  not  very  unlike  the  whining  of  a 
])U])py  dog,  //3,  ho  ho  ho  ho  ho  ho,  proceeding  from  high  and 
clear  to  a  low  guttural  shake  or  trill.  These  notes,  at  little  in- 
tervals, are  answered  by  some  companion,  and  appear  to  be 
chiefly  a  call  of  recognition  from  young  of  the  same  l)rood,  or 
pairs  who  wish  to  discover  each  other  after  having  been  sepa- 


RKD  owr,. 


59 


rateil  while  dozin<];  in  the  (l;i\-.     On  moonlight  evenings  this 
isiender  waihng   i.->  kept   up  nearly  until   niiiliULjht. 

Rdt  0'<i.u.  —  From  the  wry  satisfactory  and  «  arcftil  obserwi- 
t ions  of  l)r.  K/ra  Michcncr,  of  New  (larden,  Chester  County. 
Pennsylvania,  published  in  the  eighth  volume  of  the  Journa!  of 
the  .V.adeniy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  l'hiknleli)hia,  it  appears 
certain  that  the  Red  and  (Iray  "  Screec  h  Owls  "'  of  the  United 
Stales  are  specifically  distinct  ;  he  has  observed  that  the  Red 
Owls  rear  yo\inLr  of  the  same  c(jlor,  and  that  the  (Iray  Owls 
of  thtr  preceding  sj)e(  ies  have  al^o  young  which  are  gray  and 
mottled  from  the  very  west  Still  difterent  as  they  are  in 
plumage,  the  habits  of  the  species  are  nearly  alike.  The 
pre^sent  inhabits  and  breeds  in  most  ])arts  of  the  United  States. 
In  Pennsylvania  they  are  hatched  by  the  latter  eml  of  May, 
breeding  in  hollow  trees.      The  eggs  are  about  four. 

I  have  had  an  opj)ortunity  of  verifying  all  that  Wilson  re- 
lates of  the  manners  of  this  species  in  a  Red  or  young  Owl, 
taken  out  of  a  hollow  api)le-tree,  which  I  kejjt  for  some 
months.  A  dark  closet  was  his  favorite  retreat  during  the 
day.  In  the  evening  he  became  very  lively  and  restless,  glid- 
ing across  the  room  in  which  he  was  confined,  with  a  side- 
long, noiseless  flight,  as  if  wafted  by  the  air  alone.  .At  times 
he  clung  to  the  wainscot,  and,  unable  to  turn,  he  brought  his 
heati  round  to  his  back,  so  as  to  present,  by  the  aid  of  his 
brilliant  eyes,  a  most  spectral  and  uneardily  ajjpearance.  .\s 
the  eyes  of  all  the  Owls,  according  to  Wilson,  are  fixed  im- 
movably in  the  socket  by  means  of  a  many  clet't  capsular  liga- 
ment, this  provision  for  the  free  versatile  motion  of  the  head 
appears  necessary.  '^  hen  approached  towards  evening,  he 
apf>eared  strongly  .  i  imaged  in  reconnoitring  the  object,  blow- 
ing n-iih  a  hissing  noise  {shay,  shay,  shay),  common  to  other 
species,  and  stretching  out  his  neck  with  a  waving,  lateral 
motion,  in  a  threatening  attitude,  and,  on  a  nearer  approach, 
made  a  snapping  with  the  bill,  produced  by  striking  together 
both  mandibles,  as  they  are  equally  movable.  He  was  a  very 
expert  mouse-catcher,  swallowed  his  prey  whole,  and  then, 
after  some  time,  ejected  from  the   bill   the   bones,   skin,  and 


Co 


HIRDS    OK    I'REV. 


It  '!     I 


hair,  in  pellets,  lie  also  devoured  large  lliv's,  which  at  this 
time  eanie  into  the  room  in  great  numbers  ;  luid  even  the  dry 
parts  of  these  were  also  ejectt'fl  from  the  stoma(  h  without  di- 
gestion. A  pet  of  this  species,  wh'"'-  Michener  had, 
drank  frecpiently,  and  was  accustome  .  wash  every  day  in 
a  basin  of  cold  water  during  the  heat  of  summer. 

N'uttall,  following  Wilson  and  Audubon,  treated  the  gray  M\i\ 
red  phases  of  this  bird  as  two  distinct  species,  and  wrote  separate 
biographies,  which  I  insert  in  full.  Some  ornitliolo<,Msts  have  sup- 
|)osed  that  the  gray  specimens  were  the  youn;^  birds;  but  it  has 
been  proved  beyond  (juestion  that  the  two  phases  are  simply  indi- 
vidual variations  of  the  .>ame  species.  (Iray  and  red  birds  have 
been  found  in  one  nest,  with  both  parents  gray,  or  both  red.  or  witli 
one  of  each  color. 

The  Screech  Owl  is  a  resident  of  southern  New  Kngland  and 
quite  common.  It  breeds  northward  tc  the  Maritime  Provinces, 
westward  to  Minnesota  and  southward  to  the  (Julf  States.  Prob- 
ably southern  New  England  is  the  northern  limit  of  the  bird's 
distribution  in  winter. 


Note.  —  A  smaller  and  darker  race  is  found  in  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  and  Florida.  It  is  named  Florida  Sckek(  h  Owl 
(/I/,  asio  JlorUunus^.  In  this  race  the  reddish  feathers  wear  a 
richer  rufous  tint,  and  the  gray  are  more  deeply  tinged  witli 
brown. 


GREAT    HORNED   OWL. 

CAT   OWL. 
lUlK)    VIRGINIANUS. 

f'tiAR.  Plumage  very  variable,  of  mottled  black,  light  and  dark 
brown,  buff,  and  tawny.  A  white  band  on  the  throat,  and  a  white  stripe 
down  the  breast,  —  the  latter  soriietimes  obscure.  Ear-tufts  large  and 
conspicuous  :  legs  and  toes  feathered      Length  iS  to  25  inches. 

iWiT".  Sometimes  within  a  hollow  tree,  but  usually  on  an  upper  limb. 
A  deserted  nest  of  Crow  or  Hawk  is  often  used,  and  then  it  is  a  clumsv, 
bulky  affair  of  sticks,  lined  with  feathers 

E^'-^^s.     2-3;  white  and  nearly  spherical  ;  2.20  X  i.So. 

This  species,  so  nearly  related  to  the  (ireat  Eared  Owl  of 
Europe,    is    met    with   occasionally    from     Hudson's    Bay   to 


62 


BIRDS    (H-    IKKV. 


t  I 


tl 


':%' 


m 


I  lorid.i,  and  in  ()rrg()n;  it  exists  wen  bt-vond  the  tropics, 
beinj,'  very  probably  the  same  bird  de>eril)e»l  by  Marc  grave  as 
inhabitinj^'  the  forests  ot  lira/.il.  All  t  Jimates  are  ahke  to  this 
liagle  of  the  nijj;ht,  the  kinj,'  of  the  iioetiirnal  tril)e  of  American 
birds.  The  ajjoriginal  inhabitants  of  the  country  dread  his 
l)0(bng  howl,  decUcating  his  elligies  to  their  sokuuiities,  and,  .is 
if  h"  were  their  sacred  bird  of  Minerva,  forbid  tiie  mot  kery  of 
his  ominous,  ihsmal.  and  ahnost  snpernatunil  c  ries.  His  favor- 
ite resort,  in  the  dark  and  impenetrable  swampy  forests,  where 
he  dwells  in  chosen  solitude  secure  from  the  approacli  of  every 
enemy,  agrees  with  the  melancholy  and  sinister  traits  of  his 
character.  To  the  surrounding  feathered  race  he  is  the  I'liiio 
of  the  gloomy  wilderness,  and  would  scarcely  be  known  out  of 
the  dismal  shades  where  he  hides,  but  to  his  victims,  were  he 
as  silent  as  he  is  solitary.  Among  the  choking,  loud,  guttural 
sounds  which  he  sometimes  utters  in  the  dead  of  night,  and 
with  a  suddenness  which  always  alarms,  because  of  his  noiseless 
approach,  is  the  '7ci(ru<^^/i  ho  .'  '7c<aii;^li  ho!  which,  \Vilson  re- 
marks, was  often  uttered  at  the  instant  of  swecjjing  down 
around  his  camp-fire.  Many  kinds  of  Owls  are  similarly  daz- 
zled and  attracted  by  fire-lights,  and  occasionally  finding,  no 
doubt,  some  offal  or  flesh  thrown  out  by  those  who  encamp  in 
the  wilderness,  they  come  round  the  nocturnal  bla/e  with  other 
motives  than  barely  those  of  curiosity.  The  solitary  tra\elkrs 
in  these  wilds,  apparently  scanning  the  sinister  motive  of  his 
visits,  pretend  to  interpret  his  address  into  '^'U'ho  \ooks  for 
you  all !'"  and  with  a  strong  guttural  i)ronunciation  of  the  final 
syllable,  to  all  those  who  have  heard  this  his  common  cry.  the 
resemblance  of  sound  is  well  hit,  and  instantly  recalls  the 
ghastly  serenade  of  his  nocturnal  majesty  in  a  manner  whi(  h 
is  not  easily  forgotten.  The  shorter  cry  which  we  have 
mentioned  makes  no  inconsiderable  approach  to  that  uttered 
by  the  luiropean  brother  of  our  species,  as  given  by  lUiffon, 
namely,  'hc-hoo,  Wioo-hoo,  hoo-hoo,  etc.  The  (ireeks  called  this 
transatlantic  species  Byas^  either  from  its  note  or  from  the 
resemblance  this  bore  to  the  bellowing  of  the  ox.  The  latin 
name  Biil'o  has  also  reference  to  the  same  note  ^'>i  this  noc- 


ClUr.AI"    IinUNT.!)   owi.. 


63 


turnal  bird.  .\«  ( «)r(liiig  lo  IiimIi,  who  krpt  one  of  thi-^'-  birds 
.di\t',  it-^  (  rii's  varied  accordinj;  to  cirriniiNtaticrs  ;  whcii  hungry 
it  had  a  imihiij;  i  ry  hki-  /Vt/iu.  I  haw  rcinarki-d  tin-  yonny;, 
probably,  of  our  spec  ics  utter  tlic  same  low,  (luailiiiy;  (  r\.  while 
yet  daylij,'hl,  as  it  sat  on  the  low  braiK  h  of  a  tree  ;  the  sound 
of  both  is.  at  times,  also  not  unlike  that  made  by  the  Hawks  or 
diurnal  birds  of  prey.  Indeed,  in  gloomy  weather  I  have  seen 
our  species  on  the  alert,  tlying  about  many  horns  before  dark, 
and  utterintj;  his  call  of  7v'  ko,  ko  ko  /i<>.  'I'heir  UMial  prey  is 
youni;  rabbits,  scpiirrels,  rats,  mice,  (Jtiails,  and  small  birds  of 
various  kinds  ;  and  when  these  resources  fail  or  diminish,  they 
occasionally  prowl  ])retty  boldly  anjuntl  the  farm-yard  in  (juest 
of  Chickens,  which  thev  seize  on  the  roost.  Indeed  tin-  lairo- 
pean  Horned  Owl  freipiently  contends  with  the  iJu/zard  for  its 
])rey,  and  generally  comes  off  coiKjueror ;  blind  and  mfuriate 
with  hunger,  one  of  these  has  been  known  to  dart  even  upon 
.1  man,  as  if  for  contbct,  and  was  killed  in  the  encoimter.  My 
friend  Dr.  Iloykin.  of  .Milleilgeville,  in  (leorgia,  assured  me  that 
omofciir  own  daring  nocturnal  adventurers,  ])rowling  njund 
his  premises,  saw  a  cat  dozing  on  the  roof  of  a  smoke-house, 
and  supposing  grimalkin  a  more  harmless,  rabbit-like  animal 
than  appeared  in  the  setjuel.  blindly  snatched  her  up  in  liis 
talons  ;  but  finding  he  had  caught  a  Tartar,  it  was  not  long  be- 
fore he  allowed  jniss  once  xwoxc  to  tread  the  ground.  In 
I'aigland  the  same  error  was  commiited  by  an  Magle,  who, 
after  a  severe  conflict  with  a  cat  he  had  carried  into  the  air, 
was  at  length  brought  to  the  ground  before  he  could  disengage 
himself  from  the  feline  grasp. 

An  Owl  of  this  s])ecies,  which  I  have  observed  in  a  cage, 
appeared  very  brisk  late  in  the  morning,  hissed  anil  blew  when 
api)roached  with  a  stick,  and  dashed  at  it  very  heedlessly  with 
his  bill  ;  he  now  and  then  uttered  a  'ko-koh,  and  was  pretty 
loud  in  his  call  at  an  earlier  hour.  When  approached,  he  cir- 
cularly contracted  the  iris  of  the  eyes  to  obtain  a  clearer  view 
of  the  threatened  object  ;  he  also  listened  with  great  quickness 
to  any  sound  which  occurred  near  his  prison,  and  eyed  the 
flying  Pigeons,  which  passed  by  at  some  distance,  with  ascruti- 


64 


HIRDS    OF    PREV. 


ni/ing  and  eager  glance,     ^\'hen  fed  he  often  had  the  habit  o( 
hiding  aua\  his  sni)erfluous  provision. 

As  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  observe  the  retiring  manners 
of  this  recluse,  he  slumbers  out  the  day  chiefly  in  the  dark  tops 
of  lofty  trees.  In  these,  according  to  Wilson,  he  generally  be- 
gins to  build  m  the  month  of  May,  though  probably  earlier  in 
the  Southern  States.  The  nest  is  usually  placed  in  the  fork  of 
a  tree,  made  of  a  considerable  pile  of  sticks,  and  lined  with 
dry  leaves  and  some  feathers  ;  and,  as  a  saving  of  labor,  some- 
times they  select  a  hollow  tree  for  the  purpose. 

This  Owl  is  usually  found  in  woods  of  rather  large  growth  :  but 
Nuttall  slightly  exaggerated  in  naming  the  "dark  and  impenetrable 
swampy  forest"  as  its  "favorite  resort."  Throughout  the  Mari- 
time Provinces  it  is  found  on  the  outskirts  of  settlements,  as  well 
as  in  the  wilderness. 

An  interesting  aceo  int  of  the  habits  of  this  species  in  captivity, 
from  the  note-book  of  Mr.  James  W.  Banks,  of  .St.  John,  N.  B., 
appeared  in  "The  .\uk  "  lor  .April.  1S84. 


i'i 


XoTE.  —  There  are  two  geographical  races  of  this  species  that 
should  be  named  here.  The  DusKV  Hoknf.d  Owl  (B.  vi)-gi- 
iiicini/s  sii(urijfi(s).:\n  extremely  dark  form,  occurs  in  Labrador,  and 
is  found  also  on  the  coast  of  the  Northwest.  The  Wkstickx 
HoKNi:r)  Owi,  {[>.  I'ir^iHtaniis  siibarcficiis),  a  light-gray  form,  is 
usually  restricted  to  the  middle  faunal  province,  but  has  been  taken 
in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin. 


GRF.VT   (IRAV   OWL. 
SarriAPTEx  cinerf.a. 

Char,  .^bnve,  sooty  brown  mottled  witli  irregular  bars  of  dull  qray  : 
below,  paler  tints  of  same  colors  in  wavy  stripes.  No  ear-tufts.  The 
largest  of  the  Owls.     Length.  23  to  -50  inches. 

A\st.     Tn  a  nee. 

/t;:i,'.r.     2-3;  white;  2.15  X   1.70. 

This  is  the  largest  .\merican  species  known,  and  if  the  S. 
lapponica,  common  also  to  the  Arctic  circle,  and  seldom  leav- 
ing it,  being  only  accidental  about  Lake  Superior,  and  occa- 


GREAl"   GRAV    (JUL. 


65 


The 


sionally  seen  in  Massachusetts  in  the  (k'])th  ol'  severe  winters. 
One  was  caught  i)erched  on  a  wood-jjile,  in  a  state  of  listless 
inactivity,  in  the  morning  after  daylight,  at  Marblehcad,  in 
February,  1831.  'Ihis  individual  survived  for  several  months, 
and  showed  a  great  partiality  for  fish  and  birds.  At  times  he 
uttered  a  tremulous  cry  or  ho  ho  lid  ho  hoo,  not  very  dissimilar 
to  that  of  the  Mottled  Owl.  .\t  Hudson's  Ikiy  and  Labrador 
these  Owls  reside  the  whole  year,  and  were  found  in  the  ( )re- 
gon  territory  by  Mr.  Townsend.  They  associate  in  pair^,  tly 
very  low,  and  feed  on  mice  and  hares,  which  they  seize  with 
such  muscular  vigor  as  sometimes  to  sink  into  the  snow  after 
them  a  foot  deep.  With  ease  they  are  able  to  carry  off  the 
alj^ine  hare  alive  in  their  talons.  In  lairoj^e  the  species  ap- 
pears wholly  confined  to  the  desert  regions  of  Lapland,  two  or 
three  stragglers  being  all  that  have  been  obtained  out  of  that 
country  by  naturalists. 

Dr.  Richardson  says  that  it  is  by  no  means  a  rare  bird  in  the 
fur  countries,  being  an  inhabitant  of  all  the  woody  districts 
lying  between  Lake  Superior  and  latitudes  67°  or  fj.S'^  and 
between  Hudson's  l]ay  and  the  Pacific.  It  is  common  on 
the  borders  of  Great  Bear  Lake  ;  and  there,  and  in  the  higher 
])arallels  of  latitude,  it  must  pursue  its  prey,  during  the  summer 
months,  by  daylight.  It  keejis,  however,  within  the  woods,  and 
does  not  frequent  the  barren  grounds,  like  the  Snowy  Owl,  nor 
is  it  so  often  met  with  in  broad  daylight  as  the  Hawk  Owl,  but 
hunts  principally  when  the  sun  is  low,  —  indee<l,  it  is  only  at  such 
times,  when  the  recesses  of  the  woods  are  deeply  shadowed, 
that  the  American  hare  and  the  marine  animals  on  which  the 
Cinereous  Owl  chiefiy  preys,  come  forth  to  feed.  On  the  2^^<.\ 
of  May  J  discovered  a  nest  of  this  ( )wl,  built  on  the  top  of  a 
lofty  balsam  poplar,  of  sticks,  and  lined  with  feathers.  It  con- 
tained three  young,  which  were  covered  with  a  whitish  down. 

The  capture  in  New  England  of  several  examples  of  this  species 
has  l)een  recorded.  During  the  winter  of  1889-90,  a  number  were 
.seen  along  the  northern  border  of  these  States  and  in  tlie  southern 
portions  of  Canada.  Mr.  Mcllwraith  reported  that  a  large  number 
had  been  taken  near  Kamilton. 
vol..   I.  —  5 


11; 


1  I 


\l 


u 


LONG-EARED    OWL. 

ASIO   WILSONIANUS. 

Char.  Above,  finely  mottled  with  dark  brown,  dull  buff,  and  gray  ; 
breast  similar,  but  of  reddish  tint ;  belly  paler,  with  dark  markings.  Ear- 
tufts  large;  toes  feathered.     Length  15  inches. 

jVfsf.  Usually  in  a  tree ;  of  twigs,  lined  with  grass  and  feathers. 
Sometimes  a  deserted  Crow's  or  Hawk's  nest  is  used. 

^A''A''s-     3-6;  white  and  oval ;  1.65  X  1.30. 

This  species,  like  several  others  of  the  genus,  appears  to  be 
almost  a  denizen  of  the  world,  being  found  from  Hudson's  Ray 
to  the  West  Indies  and  Pirazil,  throughout  Europe,  in  Africa, 
northern  Asia,  and  probably  China,  in  all  which  countries 
it  appears  to  be  resident,  but  seems  more  abundant  in  certain 
places  in  winter,  following  rats  and  mice  to  their  retreats  in  or 
near  houses  anil  barns.  It  also  preys  upon  small  birds,  and 
in  summer  destroys  beetles.  It  commonly  lodges  in  mined 
buildings,  the  caverns  of  rocks,  or  in  hollow  trees.     It  defends 


LONG-EARED  OWL. 


67 


It  hers. 


ifrica, 

Intries 

Ttain 

in  or 

[,  and 

mned 

Ifends 


itself  with  great  spirit  from  the  attacks  of  larger  birds,  making 
a  ready  use  of  its  bill  and  talons,  ai.d  when  wounded  is  dan- 
gerous and  resolute. 

The  Long-Eared  Owl  seldom,  if  ever,  takes  the  trouble 
to  construct  a  nest  of  its  own  ;  it  seeks  shelter  amidst  ruins 
and  in  the  accidental  hollows  of  trees,  and  rests  content  with 
the  dilapidated  nursery  of  the  Crow,  the  Magpie,  that  of  the 
\\  ild  Pigeon,  of  the  Buzzard,  or  even  the  tufted  retreat  of  the 
scpiirrel.  True  to  these  habits,  \\'ilson  found  one  of  these 
Owls  sitting  on  her  eggs  in  the  deserted  nest  of  the  Qua  Bird, 
on  the  25th  of  April,  six  or  seven  miles  below  Philad(^l]ihia,  in 
the  midst  of  the  gloomy  enswamped  forest  which  formed  the 
usual  resort  of  these  solitary  Herons.  So  well  satisfied  was  she 
in  fact  with  her  company,  and  so  i)eaceable,  that  one  of  the  Quas 
had  a  nest  in  the  same  tree  with  the  Owl.  The  young,  until 
nearly  fully  grown,  are  grayish  white,  and  roost  close  together 
on  a  large  branch  during  the  day,  sheltered  and  hid  amidst  the 
thickest  foliage  ;  they  acquire  their  natural  colo^  in  about  fifteen 
days.  Besides  mice  and  rats,  this  si»ecies  also  preys  on  field- 
mice,  moles,  and  beetles.  The  plainti\  e  cry  or  hollow  moan- 
ing made  by  this  bird,  •*  cloui  f/oiu/,'"  incessantly  repeated 
during  the  night,  so  as  to  be  troublesome  where  they  frequent, 
is  very  attractive  to  the  larger  birds,  who  out  of  curiosity  and 
for  persecution  assemble  around  this  species  when  em])loyed 
as  a  decoy,  and  are  thus  shot  or  caught  by  limed  twigs. 

This  Owl  occurs  throughout  temperate  North  America,  and  is  a 
common  resident  everywhere  excepting  along  tlie  northern  limit  of 
its  range,  where  it  is  less  abundant,  and  appears  in  summer  only. 


l> 


SHORT-EARED    OWL. 

ASIO    ACCIPITRIXUS. 

'"har.  Above,  mottled  with  dark  brown,  tawny,  and  butlish  white; 
below,  paler  ;  feet  feathered  ;  ear-tufts  inconspicuous.  Some  examples 
arc  much  jjaler,  as  if  the  colors  had  faded.     Length  about  15  inches. 

A'rst.  On  the  ground  amid  tall  grass,  and  cunipused  of  a  few  twigs  and 
a  few  feathers. 

■^.V'V-'-     3"6  ;  white  and  oval  ;   1.60  X  1.20. 

This  is  another  of  those  nocturnal  wanderers  which  now  and 
then  arrive  amongst  iis  from  the  northern  regions,  where  they 
usually  breed.  It  comes  to  Hudson's  Bay  from  the  South 
about  May,  where  it  makes  a  nest  of  dry  grass  on  the  groiuid, 
and,  as  usual,  has  white  eggs.  After  rearing  its  brood  it  de- 
j)arts  for  the  South  in  SejUember,  and  in  its  migrations  has 
been  met  with  as  far  as  New  Jersey,  near  I'hiladelphia,  where, 
according  to  Wilson,  it  arrives  in  November  and  departs  in 
April.     Pennant    remarks   that   it  has  been   met  with   in   the 


SHORT- HARK  I)    OWL. 


69 


southern  continent  of  Anvrica  at  the  Faikliind  Islands,  It  is 
likewise  sjjread  through  every  part  of  Iuiroi)e,  and  is  common 
in  all  the  forests  of  Siberia;  it  also  visits  the  Orkney  Islands 
and  Ireland,  and  we  have  observed  it  at  Atooi,  one  of  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  in  the  Pacific,  as  well  as  in  the  territory  of 
Oregon.  In  England  it  appears  and  disappears  with  the  mi- 
grations of  the  \\'oodcock.  Its  food  is  almost  exclusively  mice, 
for  which  it  watches,  seated  on  a  stump,  with  all  the  vigilance 
of  a  cat,  listening  attentively  to  the  low  scjueak  of  its  prey, 
to  which  it  is  so  much  alive  as  to  be  sometimes  brought  in 
sight  by  imitating  the  sound.  It  is  readily  attracted  by  the 
blaze  of  nocturnal  fires,  and  on  such  occasions  has  sometimes 
had  the  blind  temerity  to  attack  men,  and  come  so  close  to 
combat  as  to  be  knocked  down  with  sticks.  When  wounded 
it  also  displays  the  same  courageous  ferocity,  so  as  to  be 
dangerous  to  approach.  In  dark  and  cloudy  weather  it  some- 
times ventures  abroad  by  daylight,  takes  short  flights,  and 
when  sitting  and  looking  sharply  round,  it  erects  the  short,  ear- 
like tufts  of  feathers  on  the  head  which  are  at  other  times 
scarcely  visible.  Like  all  other  migrating  birds,  roving  indif- 
ferently over  the  country  in  quest  of  food  alone,  these  Owls 
have  sometimes  been  seen  in  considerable  numbers  together ; 
Bewick  even  remarks  that  28  of  them  had  been  counted  at 
once  in  a  turnip-field  in  lilngland.  They  are  also  numerous  in 
Holland  in  the  months  of  September  and  October,  and  in  all 
countries  are  ser%'iceable  for  the  destruction  they  make  among 
house  and  field  mice,  their  principal  food.  Although  they 
usually  breed  in  high  ground,  they  have  also  been  observed  in 
Europe  to  nest  in  marshes,  in  the  middle  of  the  high  herbage, 
—  a  situation  chosen  both  for  safety  and  solitude. 

This  is  one  of  the  commonest  of  the  New  England  Owls,  and 
has  been  supposed  to  l^reed  in  all  the  suitable  marsh  land  along 
tlie  coast,  but  -Mr.  William  Brewster  states  that  he  knows  -of  no 
.uithentic  record  of  its  breeding  in  any  part  of  New  England  w  ilhin 
the  past  ten  years."  It  ranges  north  to  the  fur  countries,  south  to 
the  Gulf  States  and  bevond,  and  west  to  the  Faeific. 


'r 


1 

Ml 


1 

i 

r 

i 

;  1 

i 

4     ' 

l^! 


BARREL)    OWL. 

HOOT   OWL. 
SyRNIUM    NtBULOSUM. 

Char.  Above,  brown  barred,  spotted,  and  striped  with  dull  gray  or 
tawny  ;  below,  similar  colors  of  paler  tints ;  face,  gray  stripes ;  tail 
barred ;  iris  brownish  black  ;  bill  yellow.      Length  jq^  to  24  inches. 

Easily  distinguished  from  all  other  species  by  its  dark  eyes. 

jVi^st  Usually  in  a  hollow  tree,  but  often  a  deserted  nest  of  Crow  or 
Hawk  is  re-lined  and  used. 

££^s.     2-4;  white  and  nearly  spherical ;  195  X  1.65. 

This  species  inhabits  the  northern  regions  of  both  the  old 
and  new  continent,  but  with  this  difference,  as  in  the  Bald 
Eagle,  that  in  the  ancient  continent  it  seldom  wanders  be- 
yond the  Arctic  circle,  being  found  no  farther  to  the  south  than 
Sweden  and  Nonvay  ;  while  in  America  it  dwells  and  breeds 
at  least  in  all  the  intermediate  region  from  Hudson's  Bay  to 
Florida,  being  considerably  more  numerous  even  than  other 
species  throughout  the  swamps  and  dark  forests  of  the  South- 


BARRED   OWL. 


;i 


em  States.  I's  food  is  principally  rabbits,  squirrels,  (Irouso, 
(Quails,  rats,  mice,  and  frogs.  From  necessity,  as  well  as  choice, 
these  birds  not  unfreciuently  ajjpear  around  the  farm-house  and 
garden  in  (juest  of  the  poultry,  particularly  young  chickens. 
At  these  times  they  [jrowl  abroad  towards  evening,  c<\\u  fly  low 
and  steadily  about,  as  if  beating  for  their  \nvy.  Ii:  Alabama, 
(leorgia.  West  Florida,  and  Louisiana,  where  they  abound,  they 
are  often  to  be  seen  abroad  by  day,  particula -iy  in  cloudy 
weather,  and  at  times  even  soar  and  fly  with  all  the  address  of 
diurnal  birds  of  i)rey.  Their  loud  guttural  call  of  '/^o/i  'kok  ' ko 
ko,  ho,  or  \i<hah  'ivJiah  '-.uliali  'i^haJi-aa,  may  be  heard  occasion- 
aUy  both  by  day  and  night,  and  as  a  note  of  recognition,  is 
readily  answered  when  mimicked,  so  as  to  decoy  the  original 
towards  the  sound.  One  which  1  received,  in  the  month  of 
December  (1830),  was  hovering  over  a  covey  of  (Quails  in  the 
day-time  :  and  though  the  sportsman  had  the  same  aim,  the 
Owl  also  joined  the  chase,  and  was  alone  deterred  from  his 
sinister  purj^ose  by  receiving  the  contents  of  the  gun  intendetl 
only  for  the  more  fovorite  game.  When  the  young  leave  the 
nest  they  still  keep  together  for  mutual  warmth  and  safety  in 
the  high,  shaded  branches  of  the  trees  where  they  have  prob- 
ably been  hatched.  On  being  approached  by  the  parents, 
they  utter  a  hissing  call  audible  for  some  distance.  According 
to  Audubon,  when  kept  in  captivity  they  prove  very  useful 
in  catching  mice.  Their  flesh  is  also  eaten  by  the  Creoles  of 
Louisiana,  and  considered  as  palatable. 

/  .1  interesting  article,  containing  the  most  valuable  information 
regarding  the  habits  of  this  Owl  tliat  has  yet  been  published,  ap- 
peared in  "  The  Auk  "  for  April,  i<S9o.  The  writer,  Air.  Frank  Bolles, 
kept  a  pair  for  several  years ;  and  one  of  these,  having  broken  its 
wing,  was  reduced  to  sucli  subjection  that  Mr.  Bolles  was  enabled 
to  make  use  of  it  in  hunting  for  other  birds,  and  thus  gained 
an  insight  into  the  bird's  methods  that  no  other  naturalist  has 
equalled. 

Note. —The  Florida  Barred  Owl  {S.  nebulosum  allcni). 
a  somewhat  darker  variety,  is  restricted  to  the  Gulf  States  and 
Florida. 


72 


BIRDS   OK    rktV. 


SAW-WHET   OWL. 

ACADIAN'    OWL. 

NVCIALA    ALAI>I''A. 

C}i  \R.  Above,  dark  grayish  brown  spotted  with  white  ;  below,  while, 
spotted  with  reddish  brown  ;  tail  short,  with  three  narrow  bands  of  white 
spoti^. 
n 


i  reddi<h  tint,  and  face  with  white 


oiMig  ahnost  solid  Ijrown  o 
laricings.     Length  7  '4  to  Sj^  inches. 
A'lSL    A  hole  in  a  tree  (often  in  a  hole  that  has  been  deserted  by  Wood- 
peckers), lined  with  feathers. 


-6  (usually  4) ;  white;   r  20  X  100. 


Tliis  very  small  si)ecnes  is  believed  to  be  an  inhabitant  of  the 
northern  regions  of  both  continents,  from  which  in  Europe  it 
seldom  wanders,  being  even  very  rare  in  the  North  of  ( Germany. 
In  the  United  States  it  is  not  imcommon  as  far  to  the  south  as 
Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  where  k  is  resident,  having  a])- 
])arently  a  predilection  for  the  sea-coast,  living  and  nesting  in 
the  pine-trees  or  in  the  clefts  of  rocks,  and  laying  4  or  5 
white  eggs.  It  is  generally  nocturnal  ;  and  if  accidentally 
abroad  by  day,  it  flies  quickly  to  some  shelter  from  the  light. 
It  is  very  solitary  in  its  habits,  living  wholly  in  the  evergreen 
forests,  and  coming  out  only  towards  night  or  early  in  the 
morning  in  search  of  mice,  beetles,  moths,  and  grasshoppers. 

The  note  of  this  species  is  \ery  different  from  that  of  the 
S/rix  passcrina,  or  Little  Owl,  to  which  it  is  nearly  related. 
This  latter  kind  has  a  reiterated  cry,  when  flying,  like  poopoo 
poopoo.  Another  note,  which  it  utters  sitting,  appears  so  much 
like  the  human  voice  calling  out  a'iiiii\  heme,  edme,  that  accord- 
ing to  Pjuffon,  it  deceived  one  of  his  servants,  who  lodged  in 
one  of  the  old  turrets  of  the  castle  of  Montbard  :  and  waking 
him  up  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  with  this  singular  cry, 
he  opened  the  window  and  called  owl,  ^' Who's  thety  />r/o7i>  ? 
J/v  name  is  not  Imxmk,  but  Peter  !  " 

The  Saw-whet  —  called  so  from  its  note,  which  resembles  the 
filing  of  a  saw  —  breeds  from  the  Middle  States  northward  to  about 
latitude  50°,  but  is  not  an  abundant  bird  anywhere. 


U  \ 


I  illL 


^  It 


RICHARDSON'S   OWL. 

SPARROW   OWL. 
NyCTALA   TENGMALMl    RICHARDSONI. 

Char.  Above,  dark  brown  spotted  with  white ;  beneath,  white  streaked 
with  brown;  legs  and  feet  buffy,  sometimes  spotted.  Similar  to  the  Saw- 
whet,  but  with  more  white  on  head  and  neck.     Length  y  tu  12  inches. 

AVj/-     In  a  tree  ;  of  grass  and  leaves. 

£g;^s.     2-4;  white;   1.35  X  M5- 

This  is  a  small  and  nocturnal  species,  and  so  much  so  that 
when  it  accidentally  \Vanders  abroad  by  day  it  is  so  much  daz- 
zled  by  the  light  as  to  be  rendered  unable  to  make  its  escape 
when  surpri.sed,  and  may  then  be  readily  caught  by  the  hand. 
Its  nocturnal  cry  consists  of  a  single  melancholy  note  repeated 
at  the  long  intervals  of  a  minute  or  two  :  and  it  is  one  of  the 
superstitious  practices  of  the  Indians  to  whistle  when  they  hear 
it ;  and  if  the  bird  remains  silent  after  this  interrogatory  chal- 
lenge, the  speedy  death  of  the  inquirer  is  augured  :  and  hence 
among  the  Crees  it  has  acquired  the  omnious  appellation  of 
the  Bird  of  Death  {CheepomesVcs).  According  to  M.  Hutch- 
ins,  it  builds  a  nest  of  grass  half  way  up  a  pine-tree,  and  lays 


BIRDS    OF    l'Ui:V. 


i  1 


2  eggs  in  tlu'  month  of  May.  It  feeds  on  mice  and  beetles. 
It  i)rol)ably  inhabits  all  the  forests  of  the  fur  countries  from 
(ireat  Slave  I-ake  to  the  United  States,  i  )n  the  banks  of  the 
Saskatchen-an  it  is  so  common  that  its  voice  is  heard  almost 
rvcry  night  by  the  traveller  wherever  he  may  select  his  camp. 
It  inhabits  the  woods  along  the  streams  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains down  to  the  Oregon,  and  betrays  but  little  suspicion 
when  ajiproached. 

Kicliardson's  Owl  is  usually  a  rare  winter  visitor  to  the  Maritime 
Trovinccs:  but  Mr.  C.  I>.  Cory  found  it  common  and  hrcecling  on 
the  Magdalene  Islands,  and  a  few  examples  have  been  taken  in 
New  Bruntiwick  in  summer. 

It  is  common  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
tliougli  rare  near  the  city  of  (Quebec:  it  occurs  sparingly  in  winter 
along  the  northern  border  of  New  England  and  in  southern  Onta- 
rio, and  occasionally  straggles  to  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut. 
Thompson  reports  it  common  in  Manitoba,  audit  is  found  through- 
out the  fur  country.  Mr.  Nelson  reports  these  birds  breeding  in 
northern  Alaska,  where  they  occupy  tlie  fleserted  nests  of  other 
birds  —  usually  on  bushes. 

Dr.  Merriam.  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Comeau,  of  Point  de  Monts, 
describes  the  cry  of  this  Owl  as  "  a  low  liquid  note  that  resembles 
the  sound  produced  by  water  slowly  dropping  from  a  height." 


111 


BARN    OWL. 

SlRlX    PRA'lINCOLA. 

Thar.  Colors  extremely  variable.  Above,  usually  yellowish  tawny  or 
orange  brown,  clouded  with  darker  tints  and  spotted  with  white  ;  beneatli, 
buttish  with  dark  spots;  face  white,  tinged  with  tawny;  bill  whitish. 
Some  examples  have  but  little  marking  on  the  back,  and  the  face  and 
lower  parts  are  pure  white.  Easily  distinguished  from  other  Owls  by 
peculiar  facial  disc.     Length  15  to  21  inches. 

A'i'sf.  In  barn  or  church  tower  or  hollow  tree,  —  usually  the  last.  The 
eggs  are  laid  upon  a  mat  of  loosely  lai^l  twigs  and  weed-stems  or  grass. 

^SS^-     3-";  white;   1.75  X  1.30. 

There  is  scarcely  any  part  of  the  world  in  which  this  com- 
mon species  is  not  fomid  ;  extending  even  to  both  sides  of  the 
equator,  it  is  met  with  in  New  Holland,  India,  and  Brazil.  It 
is  perhaps  nowhere  more  rare  than  in  this  part  of  the  United 
States,  and  is  only  met  with  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey 
in  cold  and  severe  winters.  Nor  is  it  ever  so  familiar  as  in 
Europe,    frequenting    almost    uniformly   the  hollows  of  trees. 


;6 


lURDS    ()|     I'KKV. 


In  the  old  tontinont  it  is  almost  doiufstic,  inhabiting  even  iiop- 

iiloiis  towns,  and   i-^   ])arti(ularly  attac  hed   to   towers,   hillVies, 

the  roofs  of  churches,  and  other  lofty  iMiildings,  which  afford 

it   a   retreat   during   the    day.     The   elegant,  graphic   lines   of 

dray,  describing  its  romantic  haunt,  are  in  the  recollection  of 

every  one,  — 

"  From  yniukr  ivy-mantlcd  tower 
The  moping  Owl  ilocs  to  tlif  moon  comi)lain 
Of  Mich  as,  wandcrin^i  luar  liei  ^Ltrct  Ijowcr, 
Molest  lur  ancient  solit.iiy  r(.'ii;n  " 

Superstition  laid  aside,  these  Owls  render  essential  ser\'i(  e  to 
the  farmer  by  ilestroying  raice,  rats,  and  shrews,  which  intest 
houses  and  barns ;  they  also  catch  bats  and  beetles.  I'hey 
likewise  clear  churches  of  such  \ermin.  and  now  and  then, 
pressed  by  hunger,  they  have  been  known  to  sip,  or  rather  eat. 
the  oil  from  the  lamps  when  congealed  by  cold.  A  still  more 
extraordinary  appetite,  attribiUed  to  them,  is  that  of  catch- 
ing fish,  on  which  they  fed  their  \oracious  young.  In  autumn 
also  they  have  been  known  to  pay  a  nightly  visit  to  the  places 
where  springes  were  laid  for  Woodcocks  and  Thrushes.  The 
former  they  killed  and  ate  on  the  sjxjt  :  but  sometimes  carried 
off  the  Thrushes  and  smaller  birds,  which,  like  mice,  they  either 
swallowed  entire,  rejecting  the  indigestible  parts  by  the  bill, 
or  if  too  large,  they  ]jlucked  o((  the  feathers  and  then  bolted 
them  whok,  or  only  took  them  down  piecemeal. 

In  fine  weather  they  venture  out  into  the  neighboring  woods 
at  night,  returning  to  their  usual  retreat  at  the  api)roach  of 
morning.  When  they  first  sally  from  their  holes,  their  eyes 
hardly  well  opened,  they  fly  tumbling  along  almost  to  the 
ground,  and  usually  proceed  side-ways  in  their  course.  In 
severe  seasons,  5  or  6,  probably  a  family  brood,  are  iliscov- 
ered  in  the  same  retreat,  or  concealed  in  the*  fodder  of  the 
barn,  where  they  find  shelter,  warmth,  and  food.  The  Ham 
Owl  drops  her  eggs  In  the  bare  holes  of  walls,  in  the  joists 
of  houses,  or  in  the  hollows  of  decayed  trees,  and  spreads 
no  lining  to  receive  them  ;  they  are  3  to  5  in  number,  of  a 
whitish  color,  and   rather  long  than   round. 


MAkX    OWI.. 


77 


Wlu'n  out  abroad  by  <lay,  like  most  of  the  other  sj)c'(ies, 
tliey  arc  niinierously  atteiiilcd  by  the  little  gossipiii};  and  insiilt- 
itiL,'  binU  ol'tlic  m-ij^hborhood  ;  and  to  add  to  their  distraction, 
it  is  not  an  uik onnnon  practice,  in  the  North  of  l!nf,'land,  for 
boys  to  set  up  a  shout  and  follow  the  ( )\vl.  who  becomes  so 
di-afeni'd  and  stunm-d  as  at  times  nearly  to  fall  down,  and 
thus  become  an  easy  prey  to  his  persecutors.  And  the  prob- 
ability of  such  an  effect  will  not  be  surprising  when  we  con- 
sider the  delicacy  and  magnitude  of  the  auditory  a|)paratus  of 
this  bird,  the  use  of  which  is  jjrobably  necessary  to  discover 
the  otherwise  silent  retreats  of  their  tiny  l)rey.  When  taken 
captive,  according  to  l>unbn.  tiiey  do  iKJt  long  survive  the  loss 
of  liberty,  and  pertinaciously  refuse  to  eat, — a  hal)it  very  differ- 
ent from  that  of  the  young  Red  Owl.  who  allowed  himself  to 
{k:k:{\  from  my  hand.  an<l  tugged  greedily  and  tamely  at  the 
morsel  held  out  to  him  until  he  got  it  in  his  jjossession  ;  small 
birds  also  he  would  instantly  grasp  in  his  talons,  and  hiss  and 
shai(\  sliair,  when  any  attempt  was  matle  to  deprive  him  of  his 
booty. 

'J  he  young  of  this  species,  when  they  have  just  attained  their 
growth,  are.  in  France,  considered  good  food,  as  they  are  then 
fat  and  plump.  When  first  hatched  they  are  so  white  and 
downy  as  almost  entirely  to  resemble  a  powtler  i)urf.  At 
Hudson's  Hay  a  large  ()\\\,  resembling  the  cinereous,  is  like- 
wise eaten,  and  esteemed  a  delicacy,  according  to  Pennant. 

The  Hani  Owl  occurs  regularly  tiuiii  the  .Middle  States  south- 
ward, though  it  is  not  aliundant  north  of  South  Carolina.  .\  few 
examples  have  been  taken  in  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  and 
Mr.  Mcllwraith  reports  that  tour  have  been  taken  in  Ontario. 


IIIC 

Ham 

oists 

' 

eads 

of  a 

, 

lil.' 


w 


FLORIDA    BURROWIN(i    OWL. 
Speotyto  cunicularia  floridana. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  brown  spotted  and  barred  with  white  ;  below, 
pale  huffish  barred  with  brown ;  a  patch  of  white  on  the  breast ;  legs  long 
and  slender,  and  covered  with  huffish  bristles.    Length  about  to  inches. 

jVt'st.  At  the  end  of  a  burrow  in  the  ground,  lined  with  grass  and 
feathers. 

/^,i,';i:s.  4-10;  white,  varying  in  shape,  usually  nearly  round;  i.::5 
X    1.00. 


This  variety,  which  is  found  in  Florida  only,  is  smaller  and  lighter- 
colored  than  is  the  well-known  bird  of  the  prairies.  In  habits  the 
two  differ  little,  the  Florida  birds  living  in  communities,  — sometimes 
several  pairs  in  one  burrow,  —  and  feeding  on  mice  and  small  birds. 
The  tales  related  of  Burrowing  Owls  and  rattlesnakes  occupying 
the  same  burrow  are  "hunter's  tales,''  and  lack  confirmation. 


■iir 


Note.  —  The  Western  form  of  the  Uurrowing  Owl  (S.  cuni- 
cularia hypogcea.  has  been  taken  in  Massachusetts ;  but  its  occur- 
rence to  the  eastward  of  the  Great  Plains  is  accidental. 


ili 


xMEA  DOW  LARK. 

FIELD    LARK. 

Sturxeli-a  .ma(;\a. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  brown  barred  with  black  ;  crown  with  medial 
stripe  of  buff;  lateral  tail-feathers  white;  below  yellow,  sides  darker 
and  spotted  with  brown  ;  black  crescent  on  the  breast.  Length  about 
lo  inches. 

M:sf.  Made  of  dry  grass  and  placed  amid  a  tuft  of  long  grass  in 
a  meadow  ;  often  covered,  and  the  opening  placed  at  the  side. 

/t,:,%'s.  4-6;  white,  thickly  spotted  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac; 
1.15  X  .80. 

This  well-known  harmless  inhabitant  of  meadows  and  (>/(/ 
fields  is  not  only  found  in  every  part  of  the  United  States,  but 
appears  to  be  a  resident  in  all  the  intermediate  region,  from 
the  frigid  latitude  of  53°  and  the  territory  of  Oregon,  to 
the  mild  table-land  of  Mexico  and  the  savannahs  of  Ouiana. 
In   the  winter  these  birds  abound  in  .Alabama  and  Westen 


11 


t  , 


80 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


Florida  :  so  that  in  some  degree,  like  the  Jays  and  the  legiti- 
mate Starlings,  they  partially  migrate  in  quest  of  food  during 
the  severity  of  the  weather  in  the  colder  States.  It  is  not,  how- 
ever, improbable  but  that  most  of  the  migrating  families  of  these 
birds,  which  we  find  at  this  season,  have  merely  travelled  east- 
ward from  the  cokl  Western  plains  that  are  annually  covered 
with  snow.  They  are  now  seen  in  considerable  numbers  in  and 
round  the  salt-marshes,  roving  about  in  Hocks  of  ten  to  thirty 
or  more,  seeking  the  shelter  of  the  sea-coast,  though  not  in 
such  dense  flocks  as  the  true  Starlings  ;  these,  in  the  manner  of 
our  common  lUackbirds,  assemble  in  winter  like  dark  clouds, 
moving  as  one  body,  and  when  about  to  descend,  perform  [)ro- 
gressive  circular  evolutions  in  the  air  like  a  phalanx  in  the 
order  of  battle  ;  and  when  settled,  blacken  the  earth  with  their 
numbers,  as  well  as  stun  the  ears  with  their  chatter.  Like 
Crows  also,  they  seek  the  shelter  of  reed- marshes  to  pass  the 
night,  and  in  the  day  take  the  benefit  of  every  sunny  and  shel- 
tered covert. 

Our  Starling,  like  the  American  Quail,  is  sociable,  and  some- 
what gregarious  ;  and  though  many,  no  doubt,  wander  some 
distance  after  food,  yet  a  few,  in  Pennsylvania  as  well  as  in 
this  rigorous  climate,  may  be  seen  in  the  market  after  the 
ground  is  covered  with  snow.  Wilson  even  observed  them 
in  the  month  of  February,  during  a  deep  snow,  among  the 
heights  of  the  Alleghanies,  gleaning  their  scanty  pittance  on 
the  road,  in  company  with  the  small  Snow  Birds. 

The  flesh  of  our  bird  is  white,  and  for  size  and  delicacy  it  is 
considered  little  inferior  to  the  Partridge  ;  but  that  of  the  Euro- 
pean species  is  black  and  bitter. 

'Ihe  flight  of  these  Farks  is  laborious  and  steady,  like  that 
of  the  (^uail,  with  the  action  of  the  wings  renewed  at  short  in- 
tervals. They  often  alight  on  trees,  and  select  usually  the  main 
branches  or  topmost  twigs  on  which  to  perch,  though  their  food 
is  commonly  collected  from  the  groimd.  .At  various  times  of 
the  ilay.  and  nearly  through  the  wi  .ter,  in  the  milder  States, 
their  very  peculiar  lisi)ing.  long,  and  rather  melancholy  note  is 
heard  at  short  intervals  ;  and  without  the  variations,  which  are 


I 


MKADOW    LARK. 


8l 


not  inconsiderable,  bears  some  resemblance  to  the  slender  sing- 
ing and  affected  pronunciation  of  it  se  da'  ah.  and  pSi'Jce  etsiho, 
or  tai  seiiiiio  in  a  slow,  wiry,  shrill  tone,  and  sometimes  differ- 
ently varied  and  shortened.  'Ihe  same  simple  ditty  is  repeated 
in  the  sjiring.  when  they  associate  in  pairs  ;  the  female  also,  as 
she  rises  or  descends,  at  this  time  frequently  gives  a  reiterated 
guttural  chirp,  or  hurried  twitter,  like  that  of  the  female  Red- 
winged  Blackbird.  I  have  likewise  at  times  heard  them  utter 
notes  much  more  musical  and  vigorous,  not  very  unlike  the  fme 
tones  of  the  Sky  I, ark  ;  but  I  can  by  no  means  compare  our 
lisi)ing  songster  with  that  blithe  "  harbinger  of  day."  There 
is  a  monotonous  affectation  in  the  song  of  our  I,ark  which 
ajjpears  indeed  somewhat  allied  to  the  jingling,  though  not 
unjjleasant,  tune  of  the  Starling.  The  Stare,  moreover,  had  the 
faculty  of  imitating  human  speech  (which  ours  has  W(A,  as  far 
as  we  yet  know),  and  could  indifferenlly  speak  e\en  French, 
English,  (ierman,  Latin,  and  Greek,  or  any  other  language 
within  his  hearing,  and  repeat  short  i)hrases;  so  that  "  '  I  can't 
'^ct  out.  I  can  t  get  out,'  says  the  Starling,"  which  accidentally 
afforded  Sterne  such  a  beautiful  and  pathetic  subject  for  his 
graphic  pen.  was  probably  no  fiction. 

At  the  time  of  pairing,  our  Lark  exhibits  a  little  of  the 
jealous  disposition  of  his  tribe  ;  and  having  settled  the  dispute 
which  decides  his  tiiture  condition,  he  retires  from  his  fra- 
ternity, and,  assisted  by  his  mate,  selects  a  thick  tuft  for  the 
reception  of  his  nest,  which  is  pretty  compact,  made  of  dry, 
wiry  grass,  and  lined  with  finer  blades  of  the  same.  It  is 
usually  formed  with  a  covered  entrance  in  the  surrounding 
withered  grass,  through  which  a  hidden  and  almost  winding 
])ath  is  made,  and  generally  so  well  concealed  that  the  nest  is 
only  to  be  found  when  the  bird  is  flushed. 

The  eggs  are  four  or  five,  white,  with  a  very  faint  tint  of 
blue,  almost  round,  and  rather  large,  for  the  size  of  the  bird, 
marked  with  numerous  small  reddish-brown  spots,  more  nu- 
merous at  the  greater  end,  blended  with  other  lighter  and 
darker  points  and  small  spots  of  the  same.  They  [jrobably 
often  raise  two  broods  in  the  season.  .About  the  time  of 
VOL.   1.  —  6 


S    \ 


S3 


SINGING    151  KDS. 


1 1' 


I  ;  i 


ii 


I  ■ 

f 


4 


pairinc:,  in  the  latter  end  of  the  month  of  April,  they  have 
a  (all.  like  'A////,  /zccc,  the  latter  syllable  in  a  fine  and  slender 
tone.  —  something;  again  allied  to  the  occasional  notes  of  the 
Ked-winged  Ijlackbird,  to  which  genus  (/(■/<■ /u.^ )  .>nr  Stiirnella 
is  ncjt  very  remotely  allied.  Towards  the  close  of  June  little 
else  is  heard  from  the  si)ecies  but  the  nois\-  iwitter  of  the 
female.  ])rece(led  by  a  hoarse  and  sonorcjus  '//////'  or  y  '//>.  ac- 
(■oni])anied  by  an  im])atient  raising  ami  lowering  of  the  wings, 
and,  in  short,  all  the  unpleasant  and  ])etulant  actions  of  a 
brood-hen,  as  she  is  now  assiduously  engaged  in  fostering 
and   sui)porting  her  helpless  and  dejjendent  offs}:)ring. 

Their  food  consists  of  the  larva:  of  various  insects,  as  well  as 
worms,  beetles,  and  grass-seeds,  to  assist  the  digestion  of 
which  they  swallow  a  considerable  portion  of  gravel.  It  does 
not  appear  that  these  birds  add  berries  or  fruits  of  any  kind 
to  their  fare,  like  the  Starling,  but  usually  remain  the  whole 
summer  in  moist  meadows,  and  in  winter  retire  to  the  open 
grassy  woods,  having  no  inclination  to  rob  the  orchard  or  gar- 
den, and,  except  in  winter,  are  of  a  shy.  timid,  and  retiring 
disi^osition. 

In  the  Kast  the  Meadowlark  seldom  ranges  north  of  latitude  43^. 
I  met  witli  but  one  example  in  New  Brunswick,  and  learn  that  it  is 
rari'  near  Montreal.  It  is  common  around  Ottawa  and  tlu-QUghout 
southern  Ontario.  In  winter  thes-.  iiirds  are  found  occasionally  as 
tar  north  as  southern  New  England  and  Illinois. 

NoTK.  — A  larg  r  and  paler  form,  named  the  Western  Mead- 
owL.AKK.  (.S'.  //lai^iiii  nci^lecta),  occurs  in  Wisconsin.  Illinois,  and 
Iowa:  and  Mr.  W.  E.  I).  Scott  has  lately  announced  that  the  birds 
found  in  southwestern  fdorifla  should  be  referred  to  nuxhaud.  the 
,Mi".xi(AN  Meadowi.akk,  which  is  the  smallest  of  the  three. 

A  stray  .Staki-1\«  {Sfitnnis  -I'u/j^aris)  is  said  to  have  wandered 
from  luirope  to  Oeenland  :  and  some  sixty  were  imported  aufl 
released  in  Central  Park,  New  York,  in  1890.  They  are  tliriving 
and  increasing,  giving  evidence  of  al)ility  to  withstand  the  winter 
storm. 

.\  Tkoui'IAI.  {hlcnis  icterus),  a  Soutli  .American  bird,  was 
taken  by  Audubon  near  Charleston,  .S.  C. 


V 


'^■?:>.^.yi  '^'"^.j 


*>-     /  'ilLL  --"^t  "-1 


>\X'-ir^'~ 


'I'lA 


(^^^"^-J 


BALTIMORE  ORIOLE. 
golden  robin.    hang-nest.   fire  bird. 
Icterus  galbula. 

Char.  Male  :  head,  neck,  throat,  back,  wings,  and  greater  part  of 
tail  black  ;  wing-coverts  and  secondaries  tipped  with  white  ;  other  parts 
orange.  T?ill  and  feet  blue  black.  Female  :  smaller  and  paler,  some- 
times the  black  replaced  by  olive  brown  or  grayish  orange.  Voung 
similar  to  female.     Length  7  to  8  inches. 

A'est.  Pensile  and  purse-shaped,  6  to  S  inches  deep,  suspended  from 
e.vtremity  of  branch  10  to  50  feet  from  the  ground,  composeo  uf  yarn, 
string,  horsehair,  grass,  etc.,  woven  into  a  compact  te.\ture. 

Eggs.    4-6;  dull  white,  blotched  irregularly  with  dark  brown  ;  .yo  X .  60. 


kk 


84 


SrXOIN'G    BIRDS. 


M 


'I'hese  gay,  lively,  and  brilliant  strangers,  leaving  their  hi- 
bernal retreat  in  South  America,  appear  in  New  luigland  about 
the  first  week  in  IVIay,  and  more  than  a  month  earlier  in  I,oui- 
siana,  according  to  the  observations  of  Audul)on.  They  were 
not  seen,  however,  in  West  Florida  by  the  middle  of  March, 
althiKigh  vegetation  had  then  so  far  advanced  that  the  oaks 
were  in  leaf,  and  the  white  flowering  cornel  was  in  full 
blossom. 

It  is  here  that  they  pass  the  most  interesting  period  of  their 
lives ;  and  their  arrival  is  hailed  as  the  sure  harbinger  of 
approaching  summer.  Full  of  life  and  activity,  these  fiery 
sylphs  are  now  seen  vaulting  and  darting  incessantly  through 
the  lofty  boughs  of  our  tallest  trees ;  appearing  and  vanishing 
with  restless  inquietude,  and  flashing  at  quick  intervals  into 
sight  from  amidst  the  tender  waving  foliage,  they  seem  like 
living  gems  intended  to  decorate  the  verdant  garment  of  the 
new-clad  forest.  But  the  gay  Baltimore  is  neither  idle  nor 
capricious ;  the  beautiful  small  beetles  and  other  active-winged 
insects  on  which  he  now  principally  feeds  are  in  constant  mo- 
tion, and  require  perpetual  address  in  their  capture.  At  first 
the  males  only  arrive,  but  without  appearing  in  flocks ;  their 
mates  are  yet  behind,  and  their  social  delight  is  incomplete. 
I'hey  appear  to  feel  this  temporary  bereavement,  and  in  shrill 
and  loud  notes  they  fife  out  their  tender  plaints  in  quick  suc- 
cession, as  they  pry  and  spring  through  the  shady  boughs  for 
their  tiny  and  eluding  prey.  They  also  now  spend  much  time 
in  the  apple-trees,  often  sipping  honey  from  the  white  blossoms, 
over  which  they  wander  with  peculiar  delight,  continually  roving 
amidst  the  sweet  and  flowery  profusion.  The  mellow  whistled 
notes  which  they  are  heard  to  trumpet  from  the  high  branches 
of  our  tallest  trees  and  gigantic  elms  resemble,  at  times, 
^fshippe-tshayia  too  too,  and  sometimes  ^tshippee  'tshippce 
(lisj)ingly),  too  too  (with  the  two  last  syllables  loud  and  full). 
These  notes  are  also  varied  by  some  birds  so  as  to  resemble 
'tsh  'tsh  Usheetshoo  tshoo  tshoo,^  also  'tsh  'tshcrfd  'fsheefd  ^tsheefd 

'  Tlie  first   three  of  these  notes  are  derived  from  tlie  Summer  Yellow  Hird, 
tliougli  not   its  most  usual  tones, 


I 


i» 


BALTIMORK    ORIOLE. 


^5 


low  15iid, 


tshoo  and  ^k'tuf  a  tuf  a  ti'tf  ii  //</  /vv/i  ,'  another  bird  I  have 
occasionally  heard  to  (all  for  hours,  with  sonic  little  variation, 
///  /eo  t7'o  ico  tto  totK  in  a  loud,  (lueruloiis,  and  yet  almost  lu- 
dicrously merry  stiain.  At  other  intervals  the  sensations  of 
solitude  seem  to  stimulate  sometimes  a  loud  and  interrog- 
atory note,  echoed  forth  at  intervals,  as  k' ny  kcny  f  and 
terminating  i)laintively  k'yry  k'rry  k'rrx,  tu;  the  voice  falling 
off  very  slenderly  in  the  last  long  syllable,  which  is  a])j)arently 
an  imitation  from  the  Cardinal  (Irosbeak,  and  the  rest  is  de- 
rive<l  from  the  Crested  Titmouse,  whom  they  have  already 
heard  in  concert  as  they  passed  through  the  warmer  States, 
Another  interrogatory  strain  whi(  h  I  heard  here  in  tlie  spring 
of  1830  was  precisely.  \\ip  k'rry.  '1//.  'v//  k'iry,  very  loud  and 
oft  repeated.  Another  male  went  in  his  ordinary  key,  tsherry 
tskeny,  tsJi'ipcc  ts/i' riy,  —  notes  copied  from  the  exhaustless  stock 
of  the  Carolina  Wren  (also  heard  on  his  passage),  but  modu- 
lated to  suit  the  fancy  of  our  vocalist.  The  female  likewise 
sings,  but  less  agreeably  than  the  male.  One  which  I  had 
abundant  opi)ortunity  of  observing,  while  biisiec'  in  the  toil  of 
weaving  her  complicated  nest,  every  now  and  then,  as  a  ri'lief 
from  the  drudgery  in  which  she  was  solely  engaged,  sung,  in  a 
sort  of  querulous  and  rather  plaintive  strain,  the  strange,  un- 
couth syllables,  ^ka  'kcd  koTii'd.  krka  kcka,  the  final  tones  loud 
and  vaulting,  which  I  have  little  doul)t  were  an  imitation  of  the 
discordant  notes  of  some  South  .Xmerican  bird.  l'\:r  many 
days  she  continued  this  tune  at  intervals  without  any  variation. 
The  male,  also  while  seeking  his  food  in  the  same  tree  with  his 
mate,  or  while  they  are  both  attending  on  their  unfledged 
brood,  calls  frequently  in  a  low,  friendly  whisjjcr,  't7vait,  he' it. 
Indeed,  all  the  individuals  of  either  sex  ap])ear  ]K'rtinaciously 
to  adhere  for  weeks  to  the  same  quaint  syllables  which  they 
have  accidentally  collected. 

This  bird  then,  like  the  Starling,  appears  to  have  a  taste  for 
mimicry,  or  rather  for  sober  imitation.  A  Cardinal  Crosbeak 
hajjpcning,  very  unusually,   to  pay  us  a  visit,  his  harmonious 

'  Tlie  last  phrase  loud  and  ascundini;.  tlu-  tra  plaintive,  and  the  last  syllable 
tender  and  cclioini,'. 


S6 


SrN(;iN(;    BIRDS. 


i  1 


I: 


:,' 


and  bold  whistle  struck  upon  the  ear  of  a  Baltimore  with  great 
delight;  and  from  that  moment  his  ordinary  notes  were  laid 
aside  for  '700//,  'jooit,  kii,  and  other  phrases  previously  foreign 
to  him  for  that  season.  I  have  likewise  heard  another  individ- 
ual exactly  imitating  the  soft  and  somewhat  plaintive  i'lt yit, 
7'}f  yiii  of  the  same  bird,  and  in  the  next  breath  the  /r«/.  or 
call  of  Wilson's  Thrush  ;  also  at  times  the  earnest  song  of  the 
Robin.  Indeed  his  variations  and  imitations  have  sometimes 
led  me  to  believe  that  I  heard  several  new  and  melodious 
birds,  and  I  was  only  undeceived  when  I  beheld  his  brilliant 
livery.  So  various,  in  fact,  are  the  individual  phrases  chanted 
by  this  restless  and  lively  bird  that  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  fix 
on  any  characteristic  notes  by  which  he  may  be  recognized  ; 
his  singular,  loud,  and  almost  plaintive  tone,  and  a  fondness 
for  harpmg  long  on  the  same  string,  are  perhaps  more  peculiar 
than  any  particular  syllal)les  which  he  may  be  heard  to  utter. 
When  alarmed  or  offemled  at  being  too  closely  watched  or 
approached,  both  male  and  female  utter  an  angry,  rattling  /shcr 
tsh'r,  or  hiss.  tsJC  ish'  tsIC  'tsh. 

The  beautiful  Baltimore  bird  is  only  one  of  the  tribe  of  true 
Icteri,  which,  except  the  present  and  two  following  species, 
remain  within  the  tropical  regions,  or  only  migrate  to  short 
distances  in  the  rainy  season.  Ours  wing  their  way  even 
into  Canada  as  for  as  the  55  th  degree,  and  breed  in  every 
intermediate  region  to  the  tabledand  of  Mexico.  A  yellow 
lira/ilian  s])ecies  of  the  section  of  this  genus,  called  cassicus, 
according  to  \\'aterton  inhabits  also  Demerara,  where,  like  our 
bird,  he  familiarly  weaves  his  pendulous  nest  near  the  planter's 
house,  susj)ending  it  from  the  drooping  branches  of  trees,  and 
so  low  that  it  may  be  readily  looked  into  even  by  the  incu- 
rious. Omnivorous  like  the  Starling,  he  feeds  equally  on  insects, 
fruits,  and  seeds.  He  is  called  the  Mocking  P)ird.  and  for  hours 
together,  in  gratitude  as  it  were  for  protection,  he  serenades 
the  inhabitants  with  his  imitative  notes.  His  own  song,  though 
short,  is  sweet  and  melodious.  But  hearing  perhaps  the  yelp- 
ing of  the  Toucan,  he  drops  his  native  strain  to  imitate  it,  or 
place  it  in  ridicule  by  contrast.     Again,  he  gives  the  cackling 


li 


RALTIMORK    (JRFOLE. 


«7 


antcr's 


cries  of  the  Wooflperkcr,  the  bleating  of  the  sheep  ;  an  inter- 
val of  his  own  melody,  then  i)rohal)ly  a  IHi|)i)y  <iog  or  a  Ciuinea- 
fowl  receives  his  usual  attention  :  and  the  whule  of  this  mim- 
icry is  accompanied  by  antic  gestures  in(Ucative  of  the  si)ort 
and  com]>any  which  these  vagaries  afford  hnn.  Hence  we  see 
that  the  mimicking  talent  of  the  Stare  is  inherent  m  this 
branch  of  the  gregarious  family,  and  our  own  IJaUimore,  in  a 
humbler  style,  is  no  less  delighted  with  the  notes  of  his  feathered 
neighbors. 

There  is  nothing  more  remarkable  in  the  whole  instinct  of 
our  (iolden  Robin  than  the  ingenuity  displayed  in  the  fabrica- 
tion of  its  nest,  which  is,  in  fact,  a  pendulous  cylinilric  jiouj  h 
of  five  to  seven  inches  in  depth,  usually  su>5pende(l  from  near 
the  extremities  of  the  high,  tlrooping  branches  of  trees  (such 
a*  the  elm,  the  ])ea.r  or  apple  tree,  wild-cherry,  weeping-wilhnv, 
tijliji-iree.  or  buttonwood).  It  is  begiui  by  firmly  fastening 
natural  strings  of  the  llax  of  the  silk-weed,  or  swamp-holyhock, 
or  stout  artificial  threads,  round  tuo  or  more  forked  twigs, 
corrcs7->onding  to  the  intended  width  and  depth  of  the  nest. 
With  the  same  materials,  willow  down,  or  any  accidental  ravel- 
lings,  strings,  thread,  sewing-silk,  tow.  or  wool,  that  may  be 
lying  near  the  neighboring  houses,  or  rounfl  the  grafts  of  trees, 
il  interweaves  and  fabricates  a  sort  of  coarse  cloth  into  the 
form  intended,  towards  the  bottom  of  which  is  placed  the 
real  nest,  made  chiefly  of  lint,  wiry  grass,  horse  and  cow  hair, 
sometimes,  in  defect  of  hair,  lining  the  interior  with  a  mixture 
of  slender  strips  of  smooth  vine-bark,  and  rarely  with  a  few 
feathers,  the  whole  being  of  a  considerable  thickness,  and 
more  or  less  attached  to  the  external  jjouch.  Over  the  top, 
the  leaves,  as  they  grow  out,  form  a  verdant  and  agreeable 
canopy,  defending  the  young  from  the  sun  and  rain.  There  is 
sometimes  a  considerable  difference  in  the  manufacture  of 
these  nests,  as  well  as  in  the  materials  which  enter  into  their 
composition.  Both  sexes  seem  to  be  equally  adepts  at  this 
sort  of  labor,  and  I  have  seen  the  female  alone  perform  the 
whole  without  any  assistance,  and  the  male  also  complete  this 
laborious  task  nearly  without  the  aid  of  his  consort,  —  who,  how- 


it  i 


1 


cS8 


si\(;i\(;  iMKns. 


|H: 


Jlii 


ever,  in  general,  is  the  i)rin(ii)al  worki  r.  1  have  observed  a 
nest  made  almost  wholly  of  tow,  \vhi<  h  was  laid  out  for  the 
convenience  of  a  male  bird,  who  with  this  aid  ((^mpleted  his 
labor  in  a  \ery  sh(^rt  time,  and  frecjnently  sang  in  a  very  ludi- 
crous manner  while  his  mouth  was  loaded  with  a  mass  larger 
tiian  his  head.  So  eager  are  these  birds  to  obtain  fibrcMis  ma- 
terials that  they  will  readily  tug  at  and  even  untie  hard  knots 
made  of  tow.  In  Audubon's  magnificent  plates  a  nest  is  rep- 
resented as  formed  outwardly  of  the  long-moss  ;  where  this 
abounds,  of  course,  the  labor  of  obtaining  materials  must  be 
greatly  abridged.  The  author  likewise  remarks  that  the  whole 
fabric  consists  almost  entirely  of  this  material,  loosely  inter- 
woven, without  any  warm  lining,  —  a  labor  which  our  ingenious 
artist  seems  aware  would  be  superfluous  in  the  warm  forests  of 
the  lower  MississipjM.  A  female,  which  I  obsetved  attentively, 
carried  off  to  her  nest  a  piece  of  lamp-wick  ten  or  twelve  feet 
long.  This  long  string,  and  many  other  shorter  ones,  were  left 
hanging  out  for  about  a  week  before  both  the  ends  were  wat- 
tled into  the  sides  of  the  nest.  Some  other  little  birds,  making 
use  of  similar  materials,  at  times  twitched  these  flowing  ends, 
and  generally  brought  out  the  busy  Baltimore  from  her  occuj)a- 
tion  in  great  anger. 

The  haste  and  eagerness  of  one  of  these  airy  architects, 
which  I  accidentally  observed  on  the  banks  of  the  Suscpie- 
hanna,  appeared  likely  to  prove  fatal  to  a  busy  female  who, 
in  weaving,  got  a  loop  round  her  neck  ;  and  no  sooner  was  she 
disengaged  from  this  snare  than  it  was  slipped  round  her  feet, 
and  thus  held  her  fast  beyond  the  power  of  escape  !  The  male 
came  frequently  to  the  scene,  now  changed  from  that  of  joy 
and  hope  into  despair,  but  seemed  wholly  incapable  of  com- 
prehending or  relieving  the  distress  of  his  mate.  In  a  second 
instance  I  have  been  told  that  a  female  has  been  observed 
dead  in  the  like  predicament. 

The  eggs  of  this  species  are  usually  four  or  five,  white,  with 
a  fliint,  indistinct  tint  of  bluish,  and  marked,  chiefly  at  the 
greater  end,  though  sometimes  scatteringly,  with  straggling, 
serpentine,  dark-l)rown  lines  and  spots,  and  fainter  hair  streaks, 


«  f 


BALTIMOKK    ORIOIK. 


89 


ends, 


li)()king  sonictimcs  almost  like  real  hair,  and  ocrasionally  lined 
only,  and  without  the  spots.  The  period  ot'  incubation  is  four- 
teen days.  In  Louisiana,  according  to  Audubon,  tlu\  tre- 
(juently  raise  two  broods  in  the  season,  arrivinjf  in  that  country 
with  the  opening  of  the  early  spring.  Here  they  raise  but  a 
single  brood,  whose  long  and  tedious  support  in  their  lofty 
<  radle  absorbs  their  whole  attention  ;  and  at  this  interesting 
period  they  seem,  as  it  were,  to  live  only  to  protect,  cherish, 
and  echicate  their  young.  'I'he  first  and  general  cry  which  the 
infant  brood  utter  while  yet  in  the  nest,  and  nearly  able  to 
take  wing,  as  well  as  for  some  days  atter,  is  a  kind  of  f'-,iiii  tr- 
tiiii,  te-iiiii,  kai-tl'-te-tiiii,  or  'te  'tc'te  ' tc  7/  't-dii/,  which  becomes 
<:lamorous  as  the  parents  approach  them  with  food.  They  soon 
also  acquire  the  scolding  rattle  and  short  notes  which  they 
])robably  hear  around  them,  su'h  as  puf-u'Cft,  the  cry  of  the 
spotted  Sandpiper,  and  others,  and  long  continue  to  be  assidu- 
ously fed  and  guarded  by  their  "ery  affectionate  and  devoted 
parents.  Unfortunately,  this  contrivance  of  instinct  to  secure 
the  airy  nest  from  the  dei)redations  of  rajjacious  monkeys,  and 
other  animals  which  fre([uent  trees  in  warm  or  mild  climates, 
is  also  occasionally  attended  with  serious  accidents,  when  the 
young  escape  before  obtaining  the  perfect  use  of  their  wings. 
They  cling,  however,  with  great  tenacity  either  to  the  nest  or 
neighboring  twigs;  yet  sometimes  they  fall  to  the  ground,  and, 
if  not  killed  on  the  spot,  soon  become  a  prey  to  numerous 
enemies.  On  such  occasions  it  is  painful  to  hear  the  jilaints 
and  wailing  cries  of  the  parent^.  And  when  real  danger  offers, 
the  generous  and  brilliant  male,  though  much  the  less  queru- 
l(jus  of  the  two,  steps  in  to  save  his  brood  at  every  hazard  :  and 
I  have  known  one  so  bold  in  this  hopeless  defence  as  to  suffer 
himself  to  be  killed,  by  a  near  approach  with  a  stick,  rather 
than  desert  his  offspring.  Sometimes,  after  this  misfortune,  or 
when  the  fell  cat  has  devoured  the  helpless  brood,  day  after 
day  the  disconsolate  parents  continue  to  bewail  their  loss. 
They  almost  forget  to  eat  amidst  their  distress,  and  after  leav- 
ing the  unhappy  neighborhood  of  their  bereavement,  they  still 
come,  at  intervals,  to  visit  and   lament  over  the  fatal  spot,  as  if 


II 


00 


si\(;iN(;  niRDs. 


il 


I' 


I  t 


spcll-bonnd  by  despair.  If  the  season  l)e  not  too  far  advanced, 
the  loss  of  their  eggs  is  generally  soon  rejiaired  by  constructing 
a  se< ond  nest,  in  which,  however,  the  eggs  are  fewer. 

'Ilu-  true  Oriole  {().  <;^ir//>///ii),  whkh  migrates  into  Africa, 
■A\)i\  passes  the  breeding  season  in  the  centre  of  l-airope.  also 
makes  a  pendulous  nest,  ami  displays  great  courage  in  the  de- 
fence oi  Its  young,  being  so  attac  hed  to  its  progeny  that  the 
female  lias  been  taken  and  conveyed  to  a  cage  on  her  eggs,  on 
which,  with  resolute  and  fatal  instinct,  she  remained  faithfully 
sitting  until  she  expired. 

The  Baltimore  bird,  though  naturally  shy  and  suspicious, 
]jrobably  for  greater  security  from  more  dangercnis  enemies, 
generally  chooses  for  the  nest  the  largest  and  tallest  s|)reading 
trees  near  farm-houses,  and  along  frecpiented  lanes  and  roads  ; 
and  trusting  to  the  maccessibleness  of  its  ingenious  mansion, 
it  works  fearlessly  and  scarcely  studies  concealment.  IJut 
as  soon  as  the  young  are  hatched,  here,  towards  the  close  of 
June,  the  whole  fuiiily  begin  to  leave  the  immediate  neighbor- 
hood of  their  <  ares,  flit  thnjugh  the  woods,  — a  shy.  roving,  and 
nearly  silent  train  ;  and  when  ready  for  the  distant  journey  be- 
fore them,  about  the  end  of  August  or  beginning  of  September, 
the  whole  at  once  disappear,  and  probably  arrive,  as  with  us, 
amidst  the  forests  of  South  America  in  a  scattered  flock,  and 
(  ontinue,  like  Starlings,  to  pass  the  winter  in  celibacy,  wholly 
engaged  in  gleaning  a  quiet  subsistence  until  the  return  of 
si)rin<:.  Then,  incited  by  instinct  to  prepare  for  a  more  pow- 
erful ]»assion,  they  again  wing  their  way  to  the  regions  of  the 
north,  where,  but  for  this  wonderful  instinct  of  migration,  the 
whole  rare  would  jjcrish  in  a  single  season.  As  the  sexes 
usually  arrive  in  different  flocks,  it  is  evident  that  the  conjugal 
tie  ceases  at  the  period  of  migration,  and  the  choice  of  mates 
is  renewed  with  the  season  ;  during  which  the  males,  and 
sometimes  also  the  females,  carry  on  their  jealous  disputes 
with  much  obstinacy. 

That  our  Oriole  is  not  familiar  with  us,  independent  of  the 
all-powerful  natural  impulse  which  he  obeys,  is  sufficiently 
obvious  when  he  nests  in  the  woods.     Two  of  these  solitary 


I  * 


BAI.TIMORK   OKK.I.K. 


91 


ently 

litarv 


;tn(l  ri'tiniiL'  |)air«.  h.nl  tin-.  suiiumT,  contr-ir)'  to  tlu'ir  u-.ual 
habits,  taken  ti|i  their  alxxlc  in  the  lofty  hranehes  of  a  gij,Mnti<- 
IJiittMiiwood  ill  thi'  for-'.t.  Am  soon  as  we  appeared  thev  took 
the  alarm,  and  niuained  uneasy  and  irritable  until  we  wi-re 
wholly  oiu  of  ^iuht.  Others.  a,:,Min,  \i>it  the  heart  of  the  popu- 
lous ciiy,  and  ]»our  forth  their  wild  and  plaintive  songs  from  the 
trees  which  dirorate  the  streets  and  gardens,  aniiil  the  din  of 
the  i)assing  crowd  and  the  tinnult  of  incessant  and  noisy  oc(  11- 
pations.  Audubon  remarks  that  their  migrations  are  pertormeil 
singly  and  during  the  day,  and  that  they  proceed  high,  and  tl) 
straight  and  continuous. 

The  food  of  the  IJaltimorc  ap|)earsto  be  small  caterpillar^.  — 
sometimes  those  of  the  a])ple-trees,  —  some  uncommon  kinds 
of  b<  etles,  cimices,  and  small  tlies,  like  a  spe(  ies  (;f  c)iiips. 
( )ceasionally  I  have  sei-n  an  individual  collecting  Clciin/iii  hy 
the  sides  of  sandy  and  gravelly  roads.  'I'hey  feetl  their  y(Kmg 
usually  with  sott  caterpillars.  whi(  h  they  swallow,  and  disgorge 
on  arriving  at  tin  iu'>t  :  and  in  this  necessary  toil  both  sexes 
assiduously  unit<:.  'i'hey  seldi^m  UKjlest  any  of  the  fruits  of  our 
gardens,  e\ce])t  a  few  cherries  and  mulberries,  aiul  are  the 
most  harmless,  useful,  beauiit'ul,  and  conunon  birds  of  the 
countrv.  'I'heN'  are.  howi\cr.  accused  of  sometimes  accom- 
panving  their  voung  to  the  garden  peas,  which  they  devour 
while  small  ami  gri'en  ;  and  being  now  partly  gregarious,  the 
damage  they  commit  is  at  times  rendered  visible.  Occasionally 
thev  are  seen  in  cages,  being  chietly  ted  on  soaked  bread,  or 
meal  and  water ;  they  aji'pear  al>o  tond  of  cherries,  straw- 
berries, currants,  raisins,  ami  tigs,  so  that  we  may  justly 
consider  them,  like  the  ("assicans  and  Starlings,  as  omniNorous, 
though  in  a  less  degree.  They  sing  and  apjjear  lively  in  con- 
finement or  domestication,  and  become  very  (hjcile,  playful, 
and  friendly,  even  going  in  and  out  of  the  house,  and  some- 
times alighting  at  a  whistle  on  the  hand  of  their  protector. 
The  young  for  a  while  re(|uire  to  be  fed  on  animal  food  alone, 
and  the  most  suitable  appears  to  be  tresh  minced  meat,  soaked 
in  new  milk.  In  this  way  they  may  be  easily  raised  almost 
from  the  first  hatching  ;  but  at  this  time  vegetable  substances 


92 


SINGING    lURDS. 


appear  to  afifoid  them  no  kind  of  nutrition,  and  at  al!  times 
they  will  thrive  better  if  indulged  with  a  little  animal  food  or 
insects,  as  well  as  hard-boiled  eggs. 

The  summer  range  of  this  beautiful  bird  in  the  fur  countries 
extends  to  the  55th  degree  of  latitude,  arriving  on  the  plains 
of  the  Saskatchewan,  according  to  Richardson,  about  the  loth 
of  May,  or  nearly  as  eariy  as  their  arrival  in  Massachusetts. 
I'hose  which  thus  visit  the  wilds  of  Canada  in  all  probability 
proceed  at  once  from  Mexico,  or  ascend  the  great  valley  of 
the  Mississippi   and    Missouri. 

I  have  had  a  male  bird  in  a  state  of  domestication  raised  from 
the  nest  very  readily  on  fresh  minced  meat  soaked  in  milk. 
When  established;  his  ]  rinci])al  food  was  scalded  Indian  corn- 
meal,  on  which  he  fed  vontentedly,  but  was  also  fond  of  sweet 
cakes,  insects  of  all  ■ 'escriptions,  and  nearly  every  kind  of  fruit. 
In  short,  he  ate  everything  he  would  in  a  state  of  nature,  and 
did  not  refuse  to  taste  and  eat  of  everything  but  the  condi- 
ments which  enter  into  the  multifarious  diot  of  the  human 
species  :   he   was  literally  omnivorous. 

No  bird  could  become  more  tame,  allowing  himself  to  be 
handled  with  patient  indifference,  and  sometimes  with  play- 
fulness. The  singular  mechanical  apjjlication  of  his  bill  was 
remarkable,  and  explains  at  once  the  ingenious  art  employed 
by  the  species  in  weaving  their  nest.  If  the  folded  hand  was 
presented  to  our  familiar  Oriole,  he  endeavored  to  open  it  by 
inserting  his  pointed  and  straight  bill  betwixt  the  closed  fingers, 
and  then  by  pressing  open  the  bill  with  great  muscular  for<  e, 
in  the  manner  of  an  opening  pair  of  compasses,  he  contrived, 
if  the  force  was  not  great,  to  open  the  hand  and  examine  its 
contents.  If  brought  to  the  face  he  did  the  same  with  the 
mouth,  and  would  try  hard  to  open  the  closed  teeth.  In  this 
way,  by  ])ressing  open  any  yielding  interstice,  he  could  readily 
insert  the  threads  of  his  nest,  and  ])ass  them  through  an  infinity 
of  openings,  so  as  to  form  the  ingenious  net- work  or  basis  of  his 
suspensory  and  procreant  cradle. 

This  is  a  familiar  bird  throughout  the  greater  part  of  this  faunal 
province  nortli  to  the  soutliern  portions  of  Ontario  and  Quebec, 


I 


ORCIIAKK    ORIOI.L:. 


93 


and  it  occurs  sparingly  in    New  Brunswick  and   Nova  Scotia.     It 
winters  southward  to    I'ananui. 


Note.  -  A  single  example  of  Btllock's  Okiolk  [h tents 
(?!(//(hJ:i),  which  was  shot  near  Bangor,  Maine,  in  l88g.  gives  thus 
species  a  right  to  be  mentioned  here.  TIjc  usual  habitat  ol  thi.«> 
species  is  between  the  eastern  base  of  the  Rockies  and  the  Bacitic 
coast. 


ORCHARD  ORIOLE. 

ICTF.Rl'S    SPIRIUS. 

Char.  Male  :  head,  neck,  back,  wings,  and  tail  black  ;  other  parts 
chestnut,  deepest  on  breast.  Female:  yellowish  olive  inclining  to  brown  ; 
wings  dusky  brown  with  2  white  bands ,  beneath,  olive  yellow.  Voung 
similar  to  female.     Length  6  to  7  '4  inches. 

A'c'st.  A  handsome  basket-like  structure,  aliout  4  inches  in  depth, 
composed  of  grasses  woven  into  a  smooth  lirm  fabric,  and  lined  with 
feathers  or  other  soft  material.  It  is  sometimes  partly  supported  in  the 
forks  of  small  twigs,  and  often  entirely  pendent.  Usually  about  10  feet 
fiom  the  ground  and  near  the  em!  of  the  branch. 

^j,'^'-'-  3~^  (generally  4) ;  white  with  blue  or  green  tint,  irregularly 
marked  with  lilac  and  brown  ;  .So  X    60. 

This  smaller  and  plainer  species  has  many  of  the  habits  of 
the  Baltimore  l)ird,  and  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  about  a  week 
later.  They  enter  the  southern  boundary  of  the  United  States 
early  in  March,  and  remain  there  until  October.  They  do  not 
however.  I  believe,  often  migrate  farther  north  and  ea^i  than 
the  State  of  Connecticut.  I  have  never  seen  or  heard  of  them 
in  Massachusetts,  any  more  than  my  scientific  frientl.  and  close 
observer,  Mr.  C.  Bickering,  'iheir  stay  in  the  I'nited  States,  it 
a|)])ears  from  \Vilson,  is  little  more  than  four  months,  as  they 
retire  to  South  America  early  in  September,  or  at  least  do  not 
winter  in  the  Southern  States.  .According  to  my  friend  Mr. 
U'are.  they  breed  at  Augusta,  in  (ieorgia  ;  and  Mr.  Say  ob- 
ser\-ed  the  Orchard  Oriole  at  Major  Long's  winter  quarters  on 
tlie  banks  of  the  Missouri.  Audubon  has  also  obser\'ed  the 
species  towards  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi,  as  well  as  in  the 
State  of  Maine.     The  same  author  likewise  remarks  that  their 


f 


94 


SINCIXCi    BIRDS. 


northern  migrations,  like  those  of  the  llaUimore  bird,  ire  ])cr- 
formed  by  (hiy,  and  that  the  males  arrive  a  week  or  ten  (hivs 
sooner  than  their  mates.  They  aj)pear  to  affect  the  eiexated 
and  airy  regions  of  the  Alleghany  mountains,  where  thev  are 
much  more  numerous  than  the  IJaltimore. 

The  Orchard  Oriole  is  an  exceedingly  active,  sprighth'.  and 
restless  bird  ;  in  the  same  instant  almost,  he  is  on  the  ground 
after  some  fallen  insect,  fluttering  amidst  the  foliage  of  the 
trees.  i:)rying  and  springing  after  his  lurking  prey,  or  flvini^  and 
tuning  his  lively  notes  in  a  manner  so  hurried,  rr.pid,  and 
seemingly  confused  that  the  ear  is  scarce  able  to  thread  out 
the  shrill  and  lively  tones  of  his  agitated  ditty.  Ik'tween  these 
hurried  attempts  he  also  gives  others,  which  are  distinct  and 
agreeable,  and  not  unlike  the  sweet  warble  of  the  Red-ljreasted 
Orosbeak,  though  more  brief  and  less  varied.  In  choosing  the 
situation  of  his  nest  he  is  equally  familiar  with  the  Baltimore 
Oriole,  and  seems  to  enjoy  the  general  society  of  his  species, 
suspending  his  most  ingenious  and  pensile  fabric  from  the 
bending  twig  of  the  apple-tree,  which,  like  the  nest  of  the 
other,  is  constructed  in  the  form  of  a  pouch  from  three  to  five 
inches  in  depth,  according  to  the  strength  or  flexibility  of  the 
tree  on  which  he  labors  ;  so  that  in  a  weeping-willow,  according 
to  Wilson,  the  nest  is  one  or  two  inches  deeper  than  if  in  an 
apple-tree,  to  obviate  the  danger  of  throwing  out  the  eggs  and 
young  by  the  sweep  of  the  long,  pendulous  branches.  It  is 
likewise  slighter,  as  the  crowding  leaves  of  that  tree  afford  a 
natural  shelter  of  considerable  thickness.  'I'hat  economy  of 
this  kind  should  be  studied  by  the  Orchard  Oriole  will  scarcely 
sur])rise  so  much  as  the  laborious  ingenuity  and  beautiful  tissue 
of  its  nest.  It  is  made  exteriorly  of  a  fine  woven  mat  of  long, 
tough,  and  flexible  grass,  as  if  darned  with  a  needle.  The 
form  is  hemisjjherical,  and  the  inside  is  lined  with  downy 
substances,  —  sometimes  the  wool  of  the  seeds  of  the  Button- 
wood,  —  forming  th  -s  a  commodious  and  soft  bed  for  the  young. 
This  precaution  of  a  warm  lining,  as  in  the  preceding  species. 
is,  according  to  Audubon,  disj^ensed  with  in  the  warm  climate 
of   Louisiana.     The   eggs   are  4  or  5.  of  a  very  pale    bluish 


I 


ill 


I 


()RCIIAR1>    ORIOLK. 


95 


tint,  with  a  few  points  of  brown,  and  spots  of  dark  ])iirpli.', 
chiefly  disi)osed  at  the  greater  end.  'I'he  feniah-  sit->  al)()'ii 
14  days,  and  the  young  continue  in  the  nest  \o  (hiys  before 
thcv  become  (luaUfied  to  flit  along  with  their  parmts  ;  but 
they  are  generally  seen  abroatl  about  the  middle  of  June. 
Previously  to  their  departure,  the  young,  leaving  the  care  of 
their  parents,  become  gregarious,  and  assemble  sometimes  in 
flocks  of  separate  sexes,  from  30  to  40  (jr  upwards, —  in  ihc 
South  frequenting  the  savannahs,  feeding  much  on  crickets, 
grasshoi)pers,  and  spiders  ;  and  at  this  season  their  flesh  i?>  much 
esteemed  by  the  inhabitants.  Wilson  found  them  easy  to  raise 
from  the  nest,  but  does  not  say  on  what  they  were  fed,  though 
they  probably  require  the  same  treatment  as  the  Ikiltimore 
Oriole.     According  to  Audubon,  thev  sing  with  great  liveliness 

o  ',00 

in  cages,  being  fetl  on  rice  and  dry  fruits  when  fresh  caimot  be 
procured.  Their  ordinary  diet,  it  appears,  is  caterpillars  and 
insects,  of  which  they  destroy  great  cjuantities.  In  the  course 
of  the  season  they  likewise  feed  on  various  kinds  of  juicy  fruits 
and  berries  ;  but  their  depredations  on  the  fruits  of  the  orchard 
are  very  unimportant. 

This  is  a  summer  visitor  throughout  the  Eastern  State--,,  though 
not  common  north  of  tlie  Connecticut  valley.  It  occurs  regularly 
but  sparingly  in  Massachusetts  and  soUtiiern  (3ntario.  and  has  been 
taken  in  Maine  and  New  Brunswick.  It  breeds  southward  to  tiie 
Gulf  States,  and  in  winter  ranges  into  Central  America. 

Mr.  Chapman  describes  the  voice  of  this  Oriole  as  "  unusually 
rich  and  flexible,"  and  adds,  ••  he  uses  it  with  rare  skill  and  ex 
pression." 


% 


i 


t 


I 


M   '   ! 


RED-WINGED   BLACKBIRD. 

Agelaius  phceniceus. 

f'HAR.  Ma'e  ;  black;  lesser  wing-coverts  vermilion,  bordered  with 
bull".  Female;  above,  blackish  brown  streaked  with  paler  and  grayish  ; 
lower  parts  dusky  white  streaked  with  reddish  brown  ;  sometimes  wing- 
covcrts  have  a  reddish  tinge.  Young  like  female,  but  colors  deeper. 
Length  'Yz  to  lo  inches. 

Xcst.  In  a  tuft  of  grass  or  on  a  bush;  composed  of  grass,  leaves,  and 
mud,  lined  with  soft  grass. 

^«s^-  i~i\  color  varies  from  bluish  white  to  greenish  blue,  blotched, 
streaked,  and  spotted  with  lilac  and  dark  brown ;  size  variable,  average 
about  1. 00  X  .90. 

The  Red-Winged  Troopial  in  summer  inhabits  the  whole  of 
North  .America  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Mexico,  and  is  foinid  in 
the  interior  from  the  53d  degree  across  the  whole  continent  to 
the  shores  of  the  Pacific  and  along  the  coast  as  far  as  Cali 
fornia.  They  are  migratory  north  of  Maryland,  but  pass  the 
winter  and  summer  in  great  numbers  in  all  the  Southern  States, 
frequenting  chiefly  the  settlements  and  rice  and  corn  fields  ; 
towards  the  sea-coast,  where  they  move  about  like  blackening 
clouds,  rising  suddenly  at  times  with  a  noise  like  thunder,  and 
exhibiting  amidst  the  broad  shadows  of  their  funereal  plumage 
the  bright  flashing  of  the  vermilion  with  which  their  wings  are 
so  singularly  decorated.  After  whirling  and  waving  a  little 
distance  like  the  Starling,  they  descend  as  a  torrent,  and,  dark- 


i 


RED-WIXCir.n    IU,ACKr.IKI>. 


97 


lole  of 
3iind  in 
nent  to 

Cali- 
iss  the 
States, 
fields  ; 
keninii; 
er,  and 
umage 
ngs  are 
a   little 

dark- 


ening the  branches  of  the  trees  by  their  numbers,  tliey  com- 
mence a  general  concert  that  may  be  heard  for  more  than  two 
miles.  This  music  seems  to  be  something  betwixt  chattering 
and  warbling,  -  jingling  li(iui(l  notes  ]\kv  those  of  the  liobolink, 
with  their  peculiar  /:(>//i:^-<///rj-jrL'  :uu\  hi>h  a  li\  (>-/>(>/>  li  he :  then 
complainmg  chirps,  jars,  and  sounds  like  saw-filing,  or  the 
motion  of  a  sign-board  on  its  rusty  hinge  ;  the  whole  constitu- 
tmg  a  novel  and  sometimes  grand  chorus  oi  discord  and 
harmony,  in  which  the  i)erformers  seem  in  good  earnest,  and 
bristle  up  their  feathers  as  if  inclined  at  least  to  make  up  in 
quantity  what  their  show  of  music  may  lack  in  quality. 

W'h  11  their  food  begins  to  fail  in  the  fields,  they  assemble 
with  the  Purple  (irakles  very  familiarly  around  the  corn-cribs 
and  in  the  barn-yards,  greedily  and  dexterously  gleaning  uj) 
everything  within  their  reach.  In  the  UKjuth  of  March  Mr. 
lUillock  fountl  them  verv  numerous  and  liold  near  the  citv  of 
Mexico,  where  thev  followed  the  mules  to  steal  a  tithe  of  their 
barley. 

I'>(jm   the  beginning  of  March  to  April,  according  to  the 
nature  of  the  season,  they  begin  to  visit  the  Northern  States  in 
scattered  parties,  tlying  chieily  in  the  morning.      As  they  wing 
their   way  they  seeni  to   relieve  their  mutual  toil   by  friendly 
chatter,  and   being  the  harbingers  of  r-jjring,   their  faults  are 
forgot  in  the  instant,  and  we  cannot  help  greeting  them  as  old 
acquaintances  \\:  q^ite  of  their  ])redatory  ])r(j])ensities.     Selec- 
tinur    their   accustomed    resort,    thev    make   the    low  meadows 
resound  again  with  their  note^,  pirtieularly  in  tlie  morning  and 
evening  before  retiring  to  or  leaving  the   ro(jst ;  previous  to 
settling  themselves  for  the   night,   and  before   parting  in  the 
day,  they  seem  all  t(j  join  in  a  general  chorus  of  liijuid  warb- 
ling tones,  which  would  be  very  agreeable  but  for  the  inter- 
ru])tion   of   the  ])Iaints   and  jarring   sounds   with   which    it   is 
blended.     '1  hey  continue  to  feed  in  small  ])arties  in  swami)s 
and   by   sU)w  streams  and  ponds   till  the   middle  or  close  of 
.\pril,  when  they  begin  to  separate  in  ])airs.     Sometimes,  how- 
ever, they  appear  to  be  ])artly  ])olygamous,  like  their  cotisins 
the  ("ow  Troopials  :  as  amidst  a  numl)er  of  females  engaged  in 
vol..   f.  —  7 


I 


If; 


t 


98 


SINC.IXd    P.IKDS. 


incubalicii,  but  few  of  the  other  sex  apjiear  associated  with 
them  ;  and  as  among  the  liobolinks,  sometimes  two  or  three  of 
the  males  may  be  seen  in  chase  of  an  incUvidual  of  the  other 
sex,  but  without  making  any  contest  or  show  of  jealous  feud 
with  each  other,  as  a  concubinage  rather  than  any  regular 
mating  seems  to  jirevail  among  the  species. 

Assembled  again  in  their  native  marshes,  the  mole  perched, 
upon  the  summit  of  some  bush  surrounded  by  water,  in  com- 
pany with  his  mates,  now  sings  out,  at  short  intervals,  his 
guttural  ko)i\:^-(]ncr-n'c,  sharply  calls  ftshcali,  or  when  disturbed, 
pl.iiiui\ely  utters  ^tfshay  :  io  which  his  companions,  not  insen- 
sible to  these  odd  attentions,  now  and  then  return  a  gratulatory 
cackle  or  reiterated  chir}),  like  that  of  the  native  Meadcnv 
Lark.  As  a  pleasant  and  novel,  tJKjugh  not  unusual,  accomi>a- 
niment,  perhaps  the  great  bull-tVog  elevates  his  green  head 
and  brassy  eyes  h'om  the  stagnant  pocjl,  and  calls  out  in  a  loud 
and  echoing  bellcjw,  '70' rroo,  ''i^^uirroo,  'luoirdriiHK  ' I'oCiroo,  which 
is  again  answered,  or,  as  it  were,  merely  \aried  by  the  creaking 
or  cackling  \(uce  of  his  feathered  neighbi)rs.  This  curious 
coiK  ert,  mtered  as  it  were  from  the  still  and  sable  waters  of 
the  St_\-x,  is  at  once  both  liidicrons  uml  solemn. 

About  the  end  of  April  or  ear!\-  :n  May.  in  t!ie  middle  and 
northern  parts  of  the  I'Mic.n.  tiie  Rid  Winged  blackbirds  (H)m- 
mence  constructing  their  !x-,ts.  The  situation  made  ch(Mce  of 
is  generally  in  some  maT:,ii,  swamp,  or  wet  meadow,  al>oimding 
with  alder  (A/uus)  or  butto!i-bu:^hes  (  CcpJialaufhus)  ;  in  these, 
c()n.im.)niy  at  the  height  of  five  to  seven  feet  from  the  ground, 
or  sometimes  in  a  detachi':!  bu^h  or  tussock  of  rank  grass  in 
the  meadow,  the  nest  is  formed.  Outwardly  it  is  composed  of 
a  considerable  quantity  of  the  long  dry  leaves  of  sedge-grass 
{Ciircx),  or  ()tiier  kinds  colK'cted  in  wet  situations,  and  occa- 
sionally the  slender  leaves  of  the  ll.ig  {his)  carried  round  all 
the  adjoining  twigs  of  the  bush  by  way  of  sii])j)ort  or  sus]>en- 
sion,  and  sometimes  blended  with  strips  of  the  lint  of  the 
swamp  . /.w7</'/</.s",  or  silk-weed  {.\sclcj>ias  iiiciiniata) .  The 
whole  of  this  exterior  structure  is  also  twisted  in  and  out,  and 
carried  in  loops  from  one  side  of  the  nest  to  the  other,  pretty 


RED-WINf'.Fn    r.I.ACKniRD. 


ng 


ted  with 
tlircc  of 

he   IJllKT 

ous  feiul 

■   regular 

perched. 

in  com- 
•vals,  his 
istiirbed, 
ot  iusen- 
atulaiory 

Meadow 
iccoir.i'a- 
I'li  head 
in  a  loud 
■(>(>,  which 

creaking 
s  curious 
waters  of 

Idle  and 
rds  com- 
hoice  of 
)oiu"iding 
in  these, 
ground, 
grass  in 
posed  ot 
Ige-grass 
nd  occa- 
round  all 
r  susi)en- 
it    of  the 
y ) .      The 
out.  and 
cr,  pretty 


much  in  the  manner  of  the  (.Jriole>.  but  made  of  less  flexible 
and  handsome  materials.  The  large  mtersticcs  that  remam,  as 
well  as  die  bottom,  are  then  filled  in  with  roiun  wood,  marsh- 
grass  roots,  fibrous  peal,  or  mud,  so  as  to  form,  when  dr\',  a 
stout  and  substantial,  though  concealed  shell,  the  whole  \iiy 
well  lined  with  fine  drv  stalks  oi  grass  or  with  slender  rushes 
(Siir/^i).  When  the  nest  is  in  a  tussock,  it  is  also  tied  to  the 
adjoining  stalks  of  herbage  ;  but  when  on  the  ground  this  ])re- 
caulion  of  fixity  is  laid  asiile.  The  eggs  are  friMn  ^:5  to  5, 
white,  tinged  with  blue,  marked  widi  faini  streaks  of  light  pur- 
]~tle,  and  long,  straggling,  serpentine  lines  and  da.shes  of  \ery 
dark  brown  ;  the  markings  not  very  numerous,  and  dlspo^ed 
almost  wholly  at  the  greater  end.  Tliey  raise  two  broods  ( om- 
monly  in  the  season,  if  the  nest  is  approached  while  the 
female  is  silting,  ur  when  the  young  are  li;!t<  bed.  loud  cries  of 
alarm  are  made  by  both  ])artie>.  but  more  panic  ularl\-  by  the 
restless  male,  wiuj  flies  tcj  meet  the-  intruder,  and  generally 
brings  together  the  whole  sym])athizing  company  of  his  fellows, 
whose  nests  sometimes  are  within  a  few  yards  of  eac  h  other. 
Tlie  female  cries  \/ui\ih.  'purah,  and  at  lengih,  when  the  mis- 
chief they  dreaded  is  accom])lished,  the  lomler  notes  gi\e  way 
to  others  which  are  more  still,  slcjw,  and  monrnfui  ;  one  of 
which  resembles  /\n.  t\ti,  or  tea  and  t' Islico.li.  When  the  young 
are  taken  or  destroyed.  I'-.e  p>air  continue  restless  and  dejec  ted 
for  several  days;  but  tVom  the  fon  e  of  their  gregarious  habit 
they  again  cc^mmence  building,  usually  soon  after,  in  the  same 
meadow  or  swamj)  with  tlieir  neighbor^.  In  the  latter  jiarl  of 
July  and  .\ugust  the  young  birds,  now  resembling  the  female, 
begin  to  fly  in  flocks  and  release  themselves  j)artly  from  dc-pen- 
dence  on  their  i)arents,  whose  cares  up  to  tins  lime  are  faithful 
au'l  unremitting;  a  few  males  only  seem  inclined  to  stay  and 
direct  their  motions. 

-About  the  beginning  of  September  these  flocks,  b)-  their 
formidable  numbers,  do  great  damage  to  the  unripe  corn, 
which  IS  now  a  favorite  repast  ;  and  they  are  sometimes  seen 
whirling  and  driving  over  the  devoted  cornfields  and  meadows 
so  as  to  darken  the  air  with  their  numbers.     Tlie  destruction 


'1^ 


t 


lOO 


SINCING    r.IRDS. 


'  H 


!  I 


at  this  time  mnde  among  them  by  the  gun  and  the  Hawks  pro- 
duces 1)111  litile  cltlct  u])un  the  remain<lcr,  who  continue  fear- 
lessly, and  in  spite  of  all  oi)position,  from  morning  to  night 
to  ravage  llie  cornfields  while  anything  almost  remains  to  be 
eaten.  The  farms  near  the  sea-coast,  or  alhnial  situations, 
however,  are  their  favorite  haimts ;  and  towards  the  close  of 
Sejjtember,  the  corn  becoming  hard,  it  is  at  length  rejected  for 
the  seeds  of  the  wild  rice  {Zizaiiia  utjitatiia)  and  other  acjuatic 
plants,  which  now  begin  to  rijjen,  and  afford  a  more  harmless 
and  cheai)  repast  to  these  (.launtless  marauders.  At  this  time, 
also,  they  begin  to  roost  in  the  reeds,  whither  they  repair  in 
large  tloc  ks  every  evening  from  all  the  neighboring  quarters  of 
the  country;  upon  these  they  perch  or  cling,  so  as  to  obtain  a 
su|)port  above  the  surrounding  waters  of  the  marsh,  ^^"hen 
the  reeds  become  drv,  advantage  is  taken  of  the  circimistance 
to  destroy  these  unfortunate  gormandizers  by  fire;  and  those 
who  might  escajie  the  tlames  are  shot  down  in  vast  numbers  as 
they  hover  and  scream  around  the  spreading  conflagration. 
Ivirly  in  November  tluy  generally  leave  the  Northern  and 
colder  States,  with  the  exception  of  straggling  parties,  who 
still  continue  to  glean  subsistence,  in  the  shelter  of  the  sea- 
coast,  in  Delaware,  Maryland,  and  even  in  the  cold  climate  of 
the  State  of  Massachusetts.^ 

To  those  who  seem  inclined  to  extirpate  these  erratic  depre- 
dators, Wilson  justly  remarks,  as  a  balance  against  the  damage 
they  commit,  the  service  they  perform  in  the  s]iring  season,  by 
the  immense  number  of  insects  and  their  larvte  which  they 
destroy,  as  their  ])rincipal  food,  and  which  are  of  kinds  most 
injurious  to  the  husbandman.  Indeed.  Kalm  remarked  that 
after  a  great  destruction  made  among  these  and  the  common 
Blackbirds  for  the  legal  reward  of  3  pence  a  do/en,  the 
Northern  States,  in  1749,  experienced  a  C()m])lete  loss  of  the 
grass  and  grain  crops,  which  were  now  devoured  by  insects. 

Like  the  Troojjial  {Orio/its  icterus,  LArn.),  the  Redwing 
shows  attachment  and  docility  in  confinement,  becoming,  like 

1  My  friend  Mr.  S  rirocn,  of  Rostdn.  a-surcs  nie  that  he  has  seen  tliese  birds 
near  NCwtcin.  in  a  cedar-swaiiiii,  in  Jar'-^ry. 


ki:D-\\  IXGLIJ    lU.ACKiakD. 


lOI 


wks  pro- 
UK-  tVar- 
U)  iii^ht 
n<>  to  be 
ituations, 
closr  of 
ectcd  lor 
r  a([uatic 
harnik'ss 
Lhib  time^ 
repair  in 
uarters  of 
>  obtain  a 
I.     When 
nmstance 
ind  ihose 
mnbers  as 
llagration. 
:hern  aii<l 
rties,  who 
the  sea- 
imate  of 

tic  (lepre- 

damage 
eason,  by 

ich  they 
lids  most 
iked  that 

ronimon 
o/.en,   the 
)ss  of  the 
nseets. 

Redwing 
niing,  hke 

tlu'se  birds 


i 


the  Starling,  faniili;ir  widi  tliose  who  feed  him,  and  repaying 
the  attention  he  receives,  by  singing  hi.-»  monotonous  ditty 
I«rettv  freely,  con?.isting.  as  we  have  alreaily  remarkeil,  of  vari- 
ous odd,  grating,  shrill,  guttural,  and  sometimes  warbling  tones, 
which  become  at  length  somewhat  agreeable  to  the  ear  ;  and 
instances  are  said  to  have  occurred  of  their  actjuiring  the  power 
of  articulating  several  words  pretty  distinctly. 

The  flesh  of  this  bird  is  but  little  e>tee!ned  e.xcept  when 
yoiung.  l)eing  tlark  and  tough  like  that  of  the  Starling  ;  yet  in 
some  of  the  markets  of  tlie  United  States  they  are  at  times 
exposed  for  sale. 

The  Red-wing  is  a  common  sumnur  \  isit<ir  to  the  Eastern  States 
and  Canada,  breeding  as  far  nortli  as  latitude  50°.  In  the  West  it 
rangtrs  through  the  .Saskatcliewaii  valley  to  ( ireat  Slave  Lake.  It 
wimers  somli  to  Mexico  ;  but  a  few  individuals  have  iK-en  known  to 
brave  a  New  I  JiL:,lan(l  winter.  DurinL"^  the  winter  of  iSSc^-qo.  a 
male  was  seen  about  the  Fresh  I'ond  marshes  by  .several  members 
of  i]v:  Nuttall  Club  of  Caml)ridLre.  an<l  since  that  time  several  of 
Uiiea-c  birds  have  been  found  there  everv  winter. 


Note.  —  The  IjAII a.man  Ricd-wint;  {A.  f^hfrnisus  hryauti).  -x 
smaller,  darker  race,  is  found  on  the  Ualiama  Islands  and  in  .south- 
em  FJurida. 


If 


'!i 


'  ■  ■■■py'.    ,^^mw:'^''miy 


YELL()\V-IIi:.\l)i:i)    P.LACKIUKD. 

Xani'iiocki'II  \ia  s  xam  iKx  I  i'Ii.m  is. 

Thar.  Male:  head,  neck,  and  breast  yellow;  large  ]>atrh  on  wing 
white;  other  parts  black.  F(niale  and  vomig  :  geneial  color  bhukish 
brown;  wings  without  the  white  spot;  throat  and  breast  dull  yellf)w. 
Length    1^    to  I!  inches. 

X<-st — Of  dried  izrass,  firinlv  woven  and  fastened  to  twigs  of  a  bii-h  or 
stalks  of  rushes,  in  a  niarsh  or  >wanipv  meadow. 

Ei^rs. — 2-6;  grayish  white,  sometimes  with  a  green  tint,  irregularly 
marked   with  brown;    1.05  X  0.70. 

The  Vcllow-hcadrd  Troo])!.!].  though  long  known  as  an 
inhabitant  of  Si)uth  Anvrica,  was  only  rrt  fntly  added  to  the 
fauna  of  the  United  Stitcs  ])y  ^^ajor  l.oni:'-  e\])(.'dition.  [t 
was  seen  in  gre.U  numbers  near  the  banks  of  the  River  I'latle, 
nroinid  the  villages  of  the  I'awnei  s,  abottt  the  middle  of  May  ; 
and  the  different  sexes  were  sometimes  ol)serve(l  associated  in 
separate  Hocks,  as  the  breeding  season  had  woi  yet  ]irob;iblv 
commenced.  The  range  of  this  Hne  s])ecies  is,  apparently, 
from  Cayenne,  in  tropical  America,  to  the  banks  of  the  Ri\-er 
Missouri,  where  Mr.  'I'own^end  and  myself  observed  exam])les 
not  fir  from  the  settled  line  of  Missouri  State.  It  has  been 
seen  by  Dr.  Richardson,  in  stmimer,  as  f;ir  ;is  the  sSth  ])ar- 
allel.     Its  visits  in  the  United  States  are  vet  whollv  eonfined  to 


v\ 


vr.i.L(>\\-iii:Ai)i:i)  ijiackiukd. 


'03 


(111  wmi^ 
,1-  l)la(  kish 
nil  yellow. 

fa  bush  or 

irregularly 

n    as    an 

1   to  the 

tioii.       It 

er  I'latte, 

)r  May  ; 

iatfd  in 
jirobably 

)arcntly, 

he  River 

exam])les 

has  been 

Sth   par- 

n lined  to 


the  west  side  of  the  Mississi])pi.  beyond  \vhi(  h.  not  even  a 
stragj^ler  has  been  seen.  'I  Ium'  birds  assemble  in  llocks,  and 
in  ill!  their  movements,  aerial  L\(jlutions,  and  predatorv  chr.r- 
ai'ter,  appear  as  the  counterpart  of  their  Red -winded  n-latives. 
They  are  aUo  seen  to  fietiueiit  the  groinid  in  searc  h  of  tbod, 
in  the  manner  of  the  Cow  iJimtinij,  or  'I'roopial.  In  the 
spriiii,'  seaM)n  they  wage  war  uiKjn  the  insect  tribes  and  their 
lar\;e.  like  the  Red-wings,  but  in  autumn  they  princii)aliy 
depend  on  the  seeds  of  vegetables.  At  I  )emerara.  Uaterton 
observed  them  in  (locks,  and,  as  might  have  bei-n  suspected 
from  their  habits,  they  were  very  greedy  after  Indian  corn. 

On  the  2(1  of  May,  in  oiu"  western  tour  acnjss  the  continent. 
an)und  the  Kansa  Indian  Agency,  we  now  saw  abundance  of 
the  \'ell()\vdiea(led  'J'roopial,  associated  with  the  ("(nvbird. 
They  kept  wholly  on  the  grotmd  in  conijianies.  the  males,  at 
this  time.  b\'  themselves.  In  loose  soil  lluy  dig  into  the  earth 
with  their  bills  in  quest  of  insects  and  larwx'.  are  \ery  active, 
straddle  about  with  a  (juaint  gait,  and  now  and  thc-n,  in  the 
manner  of  the  Cowbird,  whittle  out  with  great  effort  a  chuck- 
ling note  sounding  like  ho-kukklr-'ait,  often  varying  into  a 
straining  scpieak,  as  if  using  their  inmost  endeavor  to  make 
some  kind  of  noise  in  token  of  sociability.  Their  mu>ic  is, 
however,  even  inferior  to  the  har>h  note  of  the  ('o\v])ird. 
In  the  month  of  June,  by  the  edgi'  of  a  grassy  marsh,  in  the 
open  j)lain  of  the  Platte.  se\eral  hunihcd  miles  inland,  Mr. 
Townsend  found  the  nest  ot  this  speci-.s  built  under  a  Iii>.m)(  k 
formed  of  fine  grasses  and  canojjied  o\er  like  that  of  the 
Stiirnclla,  ox  Meadow  I, ark. 

While  essentially  a  bird  of  the  jjrairie.  this  species  occurs  reg- 
ularly and  in  aluuidanee  in  Wisconsin  and  Illinois.  It  has  betn 
oljserved  occasionally  in  southern  Ontario,  and  examples  have  been 
taken  at  Point  des  Monts.  on  the  (iulf  of  .St.  Lawrence,  and  in 
Massachusetts,  Pennsylvania,  South  Carolina,  and  Florida. 


104 


SINGING   151 KDS. 


COWIilRI). 
COW    liLALKlUKI), 
MOLO'IHKLS    ATKR. 

CllAti.  Male:  head  and  luck  dull  l)r()\VM  ;  other  parts  rIossv  black. 
Female  and  young  '.  brownish  gray,  paler  below,  with  dark  >iie.ik.>. 
l,cn,t;th  7   to  S  inches. 

N^cst.  Does  not  build  any,  but  lays  its  eggs  in  nests  of  other  species, 
usually  of  smaller  birds,  such  as  the  \'ellow  Warbler,  Chipping  Sparrow, 
or  one  of  tlu'  X'ireos. 

Ei^^'s. ?  (nuujber  unknown,  probably  4)  ;  dull  white. sometimes  with 

green  or  buff  tint,  irregularly  marked  with  various  shades  of  brown  ; 
0S5  X  065. 

The  ('()\v-i)en  Dird,  perpetually  gregarious  and  flitting,  is 
observed  to  enter  tiie  Middle  and  Northern  States  in  the  latter 
end  of  March  or  the  beginning  of  .\i)ril.  They  make  their  mi- 
gration now  chiefly  imder  cover  of  the  night,  or  early  dawn  ; 
and  as  the  season  becomes  milder  they  pass  on  to  Canada,  and 
])erhaj)s  follow  the  Warblers  and  other  small  birds  into  the 
farthest  regions  of  the  north,  for  they  are  seen  no  more  after 
the  middle  of  June  until  the  return  of  autumn,  when,  with  the 
colds  of  October,  they  again  reapiK'ar  in  numerous  and  aug- 
mented flocks,  usually  associated  with  their  kindred  Red-wings, 
to  whom  they  bear  a  sensible  likeness,  as  well  as  a  similarity  in 
notes  and  manners.  'I'hey  pass  the  winter  in  the  warmer  parts 
of  America  as  well  as  in  the  Southern  States,  where  I  have 
observed  them  in  the  ploughe<l  fields,  gleaning  along  with  the 
Red-wings  and  the  common  lUackbirds.  They  are  also  very 
familiar  around  the  cattle,  picking  \\\)  insects  which  they 
happen  to  disturb,  or  that  exist  in  their  ordure.  When  on  the 
ground,  they  scratch  up  the  soil  and  appear  very  intent  after 
their  food.  Sometimes  even,  infringing  on  the  rights  of  the 
Plover,  individuals,  in  the  winter,  frequent  the  margins  of 
ponds  in  quest  of  aquatic  insects  and  small  shell-fish  ;  and  they 
may  be  seen  industriously  occu|>ied  in  turning  over  the  leaves 
of  the  water-plants  to  which  they  atlhere.     They  also  frecjuent 


h\ 


CUWIJIKU. 


lO: 


ssy  black. 

>trtMks. 

:r  species, 
Spill  ii)W, 

imcs  witli 
t    brown  ; 


litting,  IS 

he  latter 

Lhcir  ini- 

y  dawn ; 

iidd,  and 

into  the 

ore  after 

with  the 

md  aiig- 

(1- wings, 

ilarity  in 

ncr  i)arts 

c  I  have 

with  the 
\lso  very 
ich  they 
n  on  the 
:ent  after 
;s  of  the 
irgins  of 
and  they 
he  leaves 

fre([uent 


occasionally  the  rice  and  corn  fielils,  as  well  as  their  more 
ncjlorioiiM  asnociaies,  but  are  nunv  iiu  lined  to  native  food  and 
iiiMei  ts  at  all  times,  so  that  tiiey  are  more  independent  and 
less  injurious  to  the  farmer.  .\>  they  exist  in  Mexico  and 
California,  it  is  |>rol)al)le  that  they  are  also  bred  m  the  hi^iier 
tabledands,  as  well  as  in  the  regions  of  the  north.  In  luui- 
hiana,  howe\er,  according  to  Audubon,  ihe\'  .iie  rare  visitors 
at  any  season,  seeming  more  in(  lined  to  follow  their  route 
through  the  maritime  districts.  Over  these  (ountrii's,  high  in 
the  air,  in  the  month  of  October,  they  are  seen  by  ilay  winging 
tht'ir  way  to  the  ninoter  regions  of  the  south. 

We  have  observed  that  the  Red-wings  se])arate  in  parties, 
and  pass  a  considerable  part  o(  the  summer  in  the  necessary 
duties  of  incubation,  liut  the  ('ow-i)en  jJirds  release  them- 
selves from  all  hmdrance  to  their  wanderings.  The  volatile 
ilisposition  and  instinct  which  prompt  birds  to  migrati-,  as  the 
seasons  change  and  as  their  fooil  begins  to  fail,  have  only  a 
periodic  al  intluence  ;  and  for  a  while  they  remain  domestic, 
passing  .i  portion  of  their  time  in  the  (ares  and  enjoyments  of 
the  conjugal  state.  l]ut  with  our  binl,  like  the  European 
Cuckoo,  this  season  never  arrives  ;  the  flocks  live  together 
without  ever  ])airing.  A  general  concubinage  j)revails  among 
them,  scarcely  exciting  any  jealousy,  and  unac  ((jmpanied  ])y  any 
durable  affection.  l-"rom  the  commencement  of  their  race  they 
have  been  bred  as  foundlings  in  tlie  nests  of  other  birds,  and 
fed  by  foster-parents  under  the  ])erpetual  intluence  of  delusion 
and  deception,  and  by  the  sacritlce  of  the  concurrent  progeny 
of  the  nursing  birds.  Amongst  all  the  feathered  tribes  hitherto 
known,  this  and  the  I'airojjean  Cuckoo,  with  a  few  other  species 
indigenous  to  the  old  continent,  are  the  only  kinds  who  nevi-r 
make  a  nest  or  hatch  their  ycjung.  That  this  character  is  not 
a  vice  of  habit,  but  a  perpetual  instinct  of  nature,  appears  from 
various  circumstances,  and  from  none  more  evidently  than  from 
this,  that  the  eggs  of  the  Cow  Troopial  are  earlier  hatched  than 
those  of  the  foster- parent,  —  a  singular  and  critical  provision,  on 
which  perhaps  the  existence  of  the  species  depends  ;  for  did 
the  natural  brood  of  the  deceived  parent  come  first  into  exis- 


Ji 


(t 


1 06 


SlNCilNG    151 RUS. 


tfiKi.'.  the  strange  egg  on  which  they  sat  would  generally  be 
destroyed. 

\\  inn  tlie  teniale  is  disposed  to  lay.  slu'  appears  restless  and 
dejected,  ami  separates  from  the  unregarding  lloi:k.  Stealing 
thruiigii  till'  woods  and  thickets,  she  pries  into  the  bushes  and 
braniblc!)  tor  the  ne>l  that  suits  her,  into  which  she  darts  in  the 
absence  of  it>  (jwner.  uiul  in  a  few  minutes  is  seen  to  rise  on  the 
wing,  cheerful,  and  relieved  from  the  anxiety  that  ojjpressed  her, 
and  proceeds  back  to  the  llix  k  she  had  so  reluctantly  forsaken. 
If  the  egg  be  diposiled  in  the  nesl  aloni',  it  is  uniformly 
forsaken  ;  but  if  the  nur>ing  i)arent  have  any  of  her  own, 
she  immediately  begins  to  sit.  The  Red-cwd  I'hcatcher,  in 
who^c  beautiful  basket-like  nests  1  ha\e  observed  these  etrirs, 
l)ro\es  a  \er\'  affectionate  and  assiduous  nurse  to  the  uncouth 
fouudhng.  In  one  of  these  1  ftnind  an  egg  of  ea(  h  bird,  and 
t'.H'  hen  already  sitt'ug.  I  took  her  own  egg  and  K't'i  the 
strange  one  :  she  soon  relurnetl,  and  as  if  sensible  of  wliat 
had  happened,  looked  with  steadfisl  attention,  nd  >hii"ted  the 
egg  about,  then  sat  uj)on  i:,  !)ul  soon  mo\ed  off,  again  renewed 
her  obser\-ation,  and  it  wa.s  a  considerable  time  before  hhe 
seemed  willing  to  take  her  seat  ;  but  at  k  ngth  I  left  her  on 
the  nest.  Two  or  three  da_\s  alter.  1  fouiul  lli.ii  >he  had  relin- 
quished her  attention  to  tlu  strange  egg  and  tor>aken  the 
nest.  .Another  of  these  bn(l>.  howe\er,  forsook  the  nest  on 
taking  out  the  Cowbird's  egg,  although  she  had  still  two  of  her 
own  left.  'i"he  only  evample,  ])erhap^,  to  the  contrar\  (jf  de- 
serting the  uesi  when  sok'l)'  occupici  by  the  slrav  egg.  is  in 
the  bhieiiird,  who.  attached  strongly  to  tin  brei'(|ing-])laces  in 
which  it  ot'ten  continues  for  seseral  \ears,  lias  been  known  to 
lav,  though  with  apparent  reluctance,  after  the  deposition  of 
the  Cowbird's  egg.  M\  friend  Mr.  ('.  I'i(  kt'riug  tound  two 
nests  of  the  Summer  vellow  llird,  in  which  had  beiii  deposited 
an  egg  of  the.  ( "owbird  pre\ioush-  to  an\-  of  their  own:  and 
unable  to  eject  it.  the\-  had  buried  it  in  the  bottom  of  the  ne>t 
and  built  over  it  an  additional  story  !  I  also  saw.  in  the  si.m- 
mer  of  1 S  :^o,  a  similar  circumstance  with  the  same  bird,  in 
which  the  Cowbird's  egg,  though  incarceratid,  was  still  visible 


roWIURD. 


lo; 


on  the  iii)i)<T  ediic  hut  could  luwr  havt-  l)iH,'n  hatched.  At 
times  I  think  it  jirobahle  that  they  1 1\  in  thi'  ne>t^  of  larger 
birds,  who  throw  o\\\.  the  e-g,  or  ihai  llu\  drop  their  egiis  on 
the  ground  without  obtaining  a  diposit,  a^  I  ha\e  found  an  egg 
of  this  kind  thus  e\])ose(l  and  brokir..  (  )n  placing  an  egg  of 
this  bird  in  the  Catbird's  not  it  was  almost  instantly  ejec  ted  : 
and  this  would  i>robibly  be  the  ustial  fate  of  the  strange  egg  if 
the  diminutive  nurses,  thus  wi>ely  cliosen,  were  capable  «;f 
removing  it. 

'I'he  mo.-^t  iisual  nurse  of  this  bird  ajijjears  to  be  the  Ked- 
eved  \'ireo,  who  commences  sitting  as  ^oon  as  the  ("owbird's 
egg  is  deposite<i.  (  )n  these  occasions  I  ha\e  known  the  X'ireo 
to  begin  her  ineubatioii  with  only  an  egg  of  each  kind,  and  in 
other  nest>  1  have  observed  as  manv  as  :;  of  her  own,  wi'h 
that  of  the  intruder.  from  tiie  largeness  of  the  strange  vj^'^, 
probably  the  nest  immediately  feels  filled,  so  as  to  induce  tlie 
nurse  directly  to  sit.  This  larger  egg,  brought  neanr  to  tl-e 
bodv  than  her  own.  is  t onseiiuenlly  better  warmed  and  sooner 
hatched  :  ami  the  )-oung  of  the  ("owbird,  1  1  elie\e,  apjiei'.rs 
about  tlu'  I  2th  or  i  ;th  day  of  sitting.  The  foundling  is  \erv 
faithtullv  nursed  by  the  afl"e(  tion.iie  X'ireo,  along  with  her  own 
brood,  who  make  their  appearau'c  about  a  day  later  th:'.n  tix- 
Troojjial.  j-'rom  the  great  si/.e  of  the  |)arasite,  the  legitimate 
young  are  soon  stilled,  and,  when  dead,  are  (<)M\-evt.d,  as  usual, 
bv  till"  dupi  (1  parent  to  a  distant  e  before  being  drojiped  :  btit 
thev  are  never  tound  immediately  beneath  liie  m-st,  as  would 
invariably  haj)pen  if  they  were  ejt'cted  by  tlu-  young  'I'roopial. 
In  the  >ummer  of  i'^39  I  actually  saw  a  Chipping  Sparrow  c.\t- 
rying  out  to  a  distance  one  of  its  dead  Noung  thus  stilled  :  ancl 
a  sect)nd  nest  of  the  same  ^pii  ies  in  which  ,;  of  its  own  brood 
Were  hatched  soon  after  the  ( 'ow  Troopial  :  these  sur\i\ed  j  or 
3  days,  and  as  tluy  jierished  were  carried  aua\-  b\-  the  parent 
bird.  As  fir  as  1  have  had  opporiunit\  of  obser\ing,  the 
foundling  shows  no  hostility  to  tlie  natural  brood  of  his  nurses, 
but  he  lu'arly  absorbs  their  whoK'  attention,  and  earlv  dis|)lays 
his  ( harac  teristic  cunning  and  s,l!' possession.  When  tully 
fledged,    thev   quit  klv    desirt    their    foster-pannt,    and    skulk 


io8 


SIN(;iNG    lilRDS. 


( iinEB*  'f  I 


h'. 


about  in  the  woods  until,  at  Itiiulh.  tluy  instinctively  join  com- 
pany with  those  of  the  same  tV  itiiL-r,  and  now  becoming  more 
bold,  are  seen  in  parties  oi  5  or  6.  in  tlie  fields  and  lanes, 
gleaninic  their  accustonuMl  subsistence.  Tiiey  still,  however, 
appear  shy  and  watchful,  and  seem  too  selfish  to  study  any- 
thing more  tha)i  their  own  security  and  advantage. 

'I'he  son^f  oi  the  Cowbird  is  guttural  anil  unmusical,  uttered 
with  an  air  of  affectation,  and  accompanied  by  a  bristling  of 
the  feathers  and  a  swelling  of  the  body  in  the  manner  of  the 
Turkey.  These  are  also  all  the  notes  of  the  species  in  the 
season  of  their  attachment;  so  tliat  their  musical  talent  rates 
lower  than  that  of  any  other  bird  i)erha])s  in  the  genus.  Some- 
times the  tones  of  the  male  resembU?  the  liijuid  clinking  of  tiie 
IJobolink  and  l\e(bwinged  Hlackbird.  Sitting  on  the  sunnnit 
of  a  lofty  branch,  he  anuises  himself  perhaps  tor  an  hour  with 
an  occasional  'k/iich  'Avr,  the  latter  syllable  uttered  in  a  drawl- 
ing hiss  like  that  of  the  Ked-wing.  Accompanied  by  his  mates, 
he  also  endeavors  to  amuse  them  by  his  complaisant  chatter  ; 
and  watching  attentively  for  their  safety,  they  tlit  together  at 
the  instant  he  utters  the  loud  tone  of  alarm  ;  and  they  are 
always  shy  and  susjjicious  of  the  designs  of  every  observer. 
(.)\\  a  fine  s])ring  nu)rning,  howe\'er,  p<.Tched  towards  the  sum- 
mit of  some  tree  in  the  forest  where  tlu'V  seek  rest  after  their 
twilight  wanderings,  small  and  select  jjarties  may  be  seen  grate- 
fully basking  in  the  mild  beams  of  the  sunshine.  The  male  on 
such  occasions  seems  as  i)r()ud  of  his  uncouth  jargon,  and  as 
eager  to  please  his  favorite  companions,  as  the  tuneful  Night- 
ingale with  his  pathetic  and  \'arie(l  lay. 

The  Cowbird  is  a  common  summer  rc>si(lont  of  Now  England, 
tluni^h  of  rather  local  distribution.  T)r  \\nH'aton  re])(irti(l  it  as 
abundant  in  Ohio  duriuLj  the  summer  months,  and  Mr.  Mcllwraith 
made  a  similar  re]iort  for  Ontario.  It  is  rather  uncommon  in  the 
Maritime  l*n)\iiires.  but  ranges  as  far  northward  as  the  5otli  par- 
allel. In  January.  1.SS3.  two  specimens  were  taken  near  Cambridge, 
.Mass.,  by  Mr.  William  Hrewster  and  Mr.  Menry  M.  Spellman.  and 
other  evidences  of  occasional  wiiUering  in  New  England  have  been 
reported. 


■  f 


stliiig  of 


Night- 


'^Mh  l-^ 


r.OllOMNK. 

RICE    BIRD.     SKl'SK    ilLACKDlKD.      MEADOW-WINK. 
I  )()r.ICHONTX    ORYZIVORIS. 

CilAK.  Male  in  smninor  :  black;  back  of  ht-a<l  and  liiiul-nock  bnt'f  ; 
scapulars,  rump,  and  up|)er  tail-coverts  ashy  white.  Male  in  winter, 
female,  and  vounc;  :  above,  yellowisli  brown,  beneath  p.iler,  moie  bntfv; 
liglit  stri]ic  on  crown.     I.enptli  6'^  to  7 '-i  inches. 

AVs/.     In  a  meadow  :  ni.ide  of  dried  grass. 

j^;:;'-j.  4-6;  white  witli  tjreen  or  butr  tint,  irreg.ilarly  marked  with 
h'lac  and  l)rown  ;  0.S5  X'  060. 

'Vhv  whoK'  continent  of  .America,  from  I.al)r;i(lur  to  Mexico, 
nntl  the  (ireat  .\ntilles,  are  the  occnsiomil  residence  of  this  tnily 
migratory  sjiecies.  .\l)ont  the  middle  of  March  or  beginning 
of  .\])ri!  the  cheerful  r.oholink  tiiakes  his  appearance  in  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  I'nited  States,  becoming  gradually 
arrayed  in  his  nuptial  livery,  and  accompanied  by  troops  of  his 
C()m|)anions,  who  often  precede  the  arrival  of  their  more  tardv 


li 


ii 


I  lO 


SI.NCilNC    niRDS. 


Ill  I 


I 


! 


I' 
!      1 


ll 


matts.  According  to  Richardson  it  is  tln^  beginning  of  June 
when  thcv  arrive  at  their  farthest  boreal  station  in  the  54th 
degree.  U  e  observed  thcin  in  the  great  \ve>tern  plains  to  the 
ba^e  ot  the  Korky  Mountains,  but  not  in  ( )regon.  Their  win- 
tering ri'^orl  appears  to  be  rather  the  W'cmI  Indies  than  the 
tropical  continent,  as  their  migrations  are  observed  to  take 
])lacc  generally  to  the  east  oi  Louisiana,  where  their  \isits  are 
rare  and  irregtdar.  At  thi>  season  also  they  make  their  ap- 
proaches chietly  by  night,  obeying,  as  it  were,  more  distinctly, 
the  mandates  of  an  overruling  instinct,  which  prompts  thi  ni  to 
seek  out  their  natal  regions;  while  in  autunm,  their  progress, 
bv  day  only,  is  alone  instigated  by  the  natural  ([uest  of  food. 
About  the  I  St  of  Mav  the  meadows  of  Ma-^sai  husetts  begin  to 
re-echo  their  liwly  ditty.  At  this  season,  in  wet  places,  and 
by  newl\-  ploughed  fields,  they  destroy  many  insects  and  their 
lar\;e.  According  to  their  success  in  obtaining  fooil,  parties 
often  delav  tlu'ir  final  northern  mo\ement  as  late  as  the  mid- 
dle of  May,  hO  that  they  appear  to  be  in  no  haste  to  arrive  at 
their  destination  at  anv  I'xac  t  period.  The  principal  business 
of  their  iives,  howi'ver.  the  rearing  of  iluir  young,  (\nv>  not 
take  |)lace  until  thev  ha\e  left  thr  par.ilki  of  the  40th  di'gne. 
lu  die  sa\-annalis  of  ()hio  and  Michigan,  and  the  cool  ura-.-y 
meadows  of  New  \'ork.  ( 'ail  id  1.  lud  \i'W  fngland.  thev  U\ 
their  ab(jd(.',  and  obtain  a  sufliciency  o\'  food  throughout  the 
sumuier  without  molesting  tiie  harvest  of  the  firmer,  tmtil  the 
ripening  of  the  lal(.'>t  crops  o{  ous  and  barlex,  when,  in  their 
autumnal  and  changed  dress.  h:irdl\  now  known  as  the  sune 
sjiecies,  thev  sometimes  show  their  taste  for  ])lunder,  and  tlock 
together  like  the  gn-edy  and  pre(latory  lllackbirds.  Although 
thev  diAour  wuious  kinds  of  insects  and  worms  on  their  first 
arrixal.  1  ha\-e  found  that  their  freijuent  \i>its  among  the  grassy 
meadows  were  often  also  for  the  ^eeds  the\  coiiiam  ;  and  tlu'y 
are  i.arlicularlv  fond  of  tho^e  of  the  dock  and  dmdelion.  the 
latter  of  which  is  sweet  and  oilw  Later  in  the  st-ason,  and  i)re- 
viously  to  K'aving  tlu'ir  native  ri'gions.  they  I'cvA  principally  on 
various  kinds  of  grass-seeds,  j)articularly  those  ol  the  l\iiiiciiins, 
which  art'  allied  to  millet.  They  also  devour  (  ri(  kets  and  grass- 
hoppi'i>,  as  well  as  bei'tles  and  spiders,     'i'heir  nest  In  fixed  on 


r.UlSol.lNK. 


1  1 1 


;)f  June 
le  54th 
s  to  the 
L'ir  win- 
lan  the 
to   take 
isits  are 
leir  ap- 
stincily, 
thtin  to 
)rogress, 
of  food, 
begin  to 
cc-s.  and 
iid   their 
,  |)arties 
he   uiid- 
arrive  at 
l)usiness 
loes  not 
(Irgri  e. 
)i  ura-^-y 
ihx-y   \\\ 
)Ut  ihe 
mil  the 
in  thi'ir 
If  same 
\v\  llock 
llhonuh 
ir  first 
grassy 
nd  they 
i.m.  the 
ud  i>re- 
iall\  on 
tiiicinns, 
id  grass- 

fl\rd  on 


the  ground  in  a  slight  depression,  usually  in  a  field  of  nieatlow 
gra>>,  citiier  in  a  dry  or  moist  situation,  ami  consists  merely  of 
a  loose  l)L<l(ling  of  withered  gra^s,  ^o  inartificial  as  searccly  to 
he  distinguishable  from  the  rest  of  the  ground  anjimd  it.  The 
eggs  are  5  or  6,  of  a  dull  while,  inclining  to  ohse.  scattered  all 
o\er  with  small  ^]i(jts  ami  touches  of  lilac  brown,  with  some 
irregular  blotches  of  dark  rutous  brown,  c  hietl\  disposed  to- 
wards the   larger  end. 

The  males,  arri\  ing  a  little  earlier  tiian  the  other  sex,  now 
ai)i)ear  very  \igorous,  lively,  and  familiar.  Many  ([uarrels 
occiir  before  the  mating  is  settled  ;  an<l  the  hmalt  ■-  >cem  at  first 
very  ct)y  and  retiring.  1-mulation  fire>)  the  iJobulink  at  this 
period,  and  ri\al  r>ongnters  \>  \x  out  their  incosant  strains  of 
enlivening  mu>i(  iVom  e\er\-  fence  and  orchard  tree.  The 
quiet  lemales  kee[»  mu<  h  on  the  ground  :  but  as  stjon  as  they 
appear,  they  are  i)ursued  by  the  aidenl  candidates  f<;r  their 
affection,  and  if  either  seem>  to  be  favored,  die  rejected  >Mitor 
is  chased  off  the  gmund,  a>  soon  as  he  apjJcarM.  by  hi>  more 
fortunate  rival.  The  >ong  of  tb.e  male  '-ontinues  with  little  iii- 
terrujuion  as  lo.  g  as  tlu'  female  is  fitting,  and  iiis  chant,  at  all 
times  verv  similar,  i.^  both  singular  and  plea>:int.  (  )ften,  like 
the  Skylark,  mounted,  and  liovermg  on  the  wing,  at  a  small  height 
aljove  the  fiild.  as  hf  pa^se-,  along  from  one  tree-top  or  weed 
to  another.  In-  utti  rs  >uch  a  jingling  niedUy  of  short.  \-arial)le 
notes,  so  confused.  ri|)id.  and  coniinuMU>.  that  it  appears 
a!mo>t  like  tiie  bh  tiding  song  of  si'\eial  different  bird-.  M mv 
of  th>'->e  tone>  are  \.-r\  agreeable  ;  but  ihi'V  are  delivered  with 
such  rapiditv  th.it  tb.e  ear  can  scarcely  s<  jiarale  tlu-m.  Tlu- 
genenil  effi-ct.  howe\er.  like  all  the  sinipli'  efforts  of  N.iiure,  is 
good,  and  when  several  are  (  hanting  forth  in  the  s.ime  meadow, 
the  concert  is  \-erv  cheerful,  though  monotonous,  and  somewhat 
tpiaint.  .\mong  the  few  phrases  that  can  be  distinguished,  the 
lii|uid  sound  of  l>oh-o  /ri'  hohi^/iiik  hol>-(i-linhi\  is  \ery  distinct. 
To  givt'  an  idea  of  the  variable  extent  of  song,  .md  evi-n  an 
imitation,  m  >-iiine  measure,  of  the  i  hrom  uie  period  and,  ;vr  of 
this  fm.iliar  and  rathir  fuorite  n'-^idint,  the  bovs  of  this  j)art 
of  New  laigland  make  him  spout,  among  others,  the  fdlowing 


It 


il 


<  I 


J  12 


SIXCIXC;    15IRDS. 


' 


III 


ludicrous  dunning  i)hr;isi',  as  he  rises  and  hovers  on  the  uinj,' 
near  liis  uvMc,  ^' '/>'i'/>-(>-/////<:,  'Boh-b-link,  'Tom  Dininy  '  Tom 
JJi-iniy.  —  '  Ci'iiii-  /^(ly  ntr  the  t-n'o  inu/  six  prjicc  y('ii''7'C  o-k'cJ 
iih'it-  than  a  yrar  an,/  a  half  a^^o .'  —  ' tshc  'tshi'  'tshc,  'tsh  'tsh 
'/she',"  modestly  di\ing  at  the  same  instant  down  into  the  i^rass 
as  if  to  avoid  alten  ation.  However  puerile  this  odd  phrase 
may  apjjear,  it  is  (|uite  amusintf  to  find  how  near  it  ajjjjroaches 
to  the  time  and  exjjression  of  the  notes,  when  pronounced  in 
a  hurried  manner.  It  would  be  unwise  in  the  naturaHst  to 
hold  in  contempt  anything,  however  trilling,  which  might  tend 
to  elucidate  the  simjjle  truth  of  nature  ;  1  therefore  give  the 
thing  as  1  fmd  it.  This  relish  for  song  and  merriment,  con- 
fined wholly  to  the  male,  dnninishes  a^  the  pcrioil  of  incuhation 
ad\ances  ;  and  when  the  brood  begin  to  tlutter  around  their 
l)arenls  and  protectors,  the  song  bccomi's  less  t'reciuent,  the 
cares  of  the  parents  more  urgtail,  and  an\-  app.oach  to  the 
secret  recess  of  their  helpless  family  is  deplored  with  urgent 
and  incessant  cries  as  they  hover  fearfully  around  the  inten- 
tional or  accidental  intruder,  'i'hey  appear  sometimes  inclined 
to  have  a  second  brood,  for  which  pn])aration  is  made  while 
thev  are  vet  engaged  in  rearing  the  fn>t  :  but  the  male  gi-n- 
erally  loses  his  musical  taU'Ut  about  the  end  of  the  first  wi-i-k 
in  julv.  from  which  time  his  nuptial  or  pied  dres^  begins 
gradualh  to  be  laid  aside  for  the  humhk' garb  of  tin-  female, 
■j'hi'  whole,  both  voung  and  old,  then  appear  nearly  in  the 
same  songless  li\ery.  uttering  only  a  rh/n/.'  of  alarm  when  >m- 
]>ri->efl  in  fcdling  on  the  grass  seeds,  or  the  croi)S  of  grain 
whi(  h  Still  remain  abroad.  Whiii  the  voice  of  the  IJobolink 
begins  to  fail,  with  the  i)rogrcss  of  the  exhausting  moult,  he  Hits 
over  the  fields  in  a  restless  manner,  ami  merely  utters  a  broken 
'/'o/'7,;\  W'oh'hr.  or  with  hi:;  songless  mate,  at  length,  a  'rcvvV 
'rc',v/,  /'7<rt  /'Vrrt,  and  a  noisy  and  disagreeable  cackling 
(  hiriL  At  the  earl\-  dawn  of  day,  while  the  tuneful  talent  of 
the  species  is  vet  unabated,  the  effect  of  their  awakening  and 
faltering  voice's  from  a  wide  expanse  of  meadows,  is  singular 
and  grand.  The  sounds  mingle  like  the  noise  of  a  distant 
torrent,  whii  h  allernatelv  subsides  and   rises  on  the  bri'e/e  as 


c  wing 
•  '  Tom 

c  ou'i'ii 

'sh  'A/t 

c  lirass 

phrase 

oaches 

iced  in 

alist  to 

ht  tend 

ivc  the 

it.  con- 

ii])alii)n 

1(1  llKit 

■nt,  the 
to   tlio 

\  ur^uent 

e  intcn- 

inclined 

le  while 

ale  tien- 

rst  week 
beghis 
female, 
m  the 
en  >ur- 
Li;rain 
obolink 
he  tlits 
broken 
a  ':<.•((( 
■acklinn 
lalcnt  of 
lin.u  and 
^ini^ular 
I  distant 
ree/e  as 


OI 


I 


150  H(.t  LINK. 


I  I  ^. 


4 


the  perf(jrmers  awake  or  relapse  into  rest  ;  it  finally  becomes 
more  distinct  and  tuinuliiu)ii>.  till  wilii  the  o|)eninL;  day  it  as- 
sumes the  intelligible  character  of  iheir  ordinary  song.  The 
young  males,  towards  the  close  t)f  jul\-.  iia\ing  nearly  .u  (|uired 
their  perfect  chara(  liT,  utter  also  m  the  morning,  from  the 
trees  which  border  their  favorite  marshy  uieadows,  a  \ery 
agreeable  and  c(jntinuous  low  warble,  more  like  thai  of  the 
Vcllow  I'.ird  than  the  usual  song  of  the  specae^  ;  in  fict.  tiu-y 
appear  now  in  e\er\-  respect  as  {"'inches,  and  only  l)e(()me 
jingling  musicians  when    ro!)ed   in  their  jnetl  dress  as  b  ten. 

About  the  middle  of  .\ugust,  in  congregating  number^,  di- 
vested already  of  all  selective  attachment,  vast  foraging  parlies 
enter  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  on  their  way  to  .the  South. 
Mere,  along  the  chores  of  the  large  rivers,  lined  with  lloiting 
fields  of  the  wild  rice,  they  find  an  abundant  means  of  >ul)- 
sistence  during  their  >hort  stay;  and  a>  their  ilesh,  now  fat.  is 
little  inferior  to  that  of  the  lairoi)ean  ( )rtolan,  the  keeil  or  Rice 
iJirds,  as  they  are  then  called  in  their  Sp;irrow-dress,  form  a 
favorite  sport  for  gunners  of  all  tlescriptions,  who  turn  out  on 
thi-  occasion  and  commit  ])rodigious  havoc  among  the  almost 
silent  and  greedy  roosting  throng.  The  markets  are  then  filled 
with  this  delicious  game,  and  the  pursuit,  both  for  success  and 
amusement,  along  the  pictures(iue  and  reedy  shores  of  the  Del- 
aware and  other  rivers  is  second  to  none  but  that  of  Rail- 
shooting.  A>  soon  as  the  cool  nights  of  October  commen<"o, 
and  as  the  wild  rice  crops  begin  to  fiil.  the  Reed  birds 
take  their  departure  from  I'e'unsylvania  and  New  |erse\-.  and  in 
their  farther  progress  through  the  Southern  States  they  swarm 
in  the  rice  fields  ;  and  before  the  cro])  is  gathered  they  have 
already  made  their  appearand-  in  the  islands  of  Cuba  and 
Jamaica,  where  they  also  {i:ci\  on  the  seeds  of  the  (hiinea 
grass,  become  so  fat  as  to  deser\e  the  name  of  "  Butter-birds," 
anil  are  in  high  esteem  for  the  table. 

Near  the  .\tlantie  coast  the  bobolink  is  not  common   north   of 
the  45th  paniUel  :  hut  in  the  West  it  ranges  to  nuieii  higher  latitudes. 
A  few  examples  have  been  observed  011  the  Xew  llrunswick  shore 
of  the  C.uif  of  .St.  Lawrence. 
V(M..  I.  —  ,S 


t 


i! 


114 


SINGING    BIRDS. 


'  I 


|i 


BOAT-TAI!.KU   (;RACKLE. 

JACKDAW. 
QULSCALUS  MAJOR. 

CllAR.  Extremely  long,  wedge-shaped  tail,  less  conspicuous  in  female. 
Male  :  hlack,  with  niLfillic  tints  of  L;reen.  blue,  and  purple.  I-en^th  15  to 
17/2  inches.  FcMuile  :  .:i  ove,  bnnvn  ;  beneath, grayish  brown,  changing  to 
reddish  .nul  In     .      \  'jr.nst  and  throat.     Length,  tili  to  13  inches. 

A'c'sL  A  bui  tin  .V  c  of  dried  gra>s  and  strips  of  bark,  cemented 
with  nuul  and  line  ,ith  li:-"  rrass  ;  placed  in  a  tree  in  swamp  or  near  a 
marsh,  sometimes  fastened  i'    aislies. 

^'sV-f-  3-5;  gr.iyish  drab  witli  tints  of  green  or  blue,  marked  with 
black  and  brown  l)lulches  and  lines:   1.23  X  o.'jo. 

Tills  larj^c  and  (  row-like  species,  sonietinies  called  the  Jack- 
daw, inhaliits  the  southern  maritime  ))arts  of  the  I'nion  only, 
l)arti(iilarly  the  States  of  (leorgia  and  I"lorida,  where  they  are 
seen  as  early  as  the  close  of  January  or  beiiinnini,'  of  ['"ebniary, 
but  do  not  begin  to  pair  before  March,  previously  to  which 
seast)n  the  sexes  are  si'en  in  sejxarate  tlocks.  I5ut  about  the 
latter  end  of  \oveml)er  they  quit  even  the  mild  climate  of 
I'loriila,  generally,  and  seek  winter-quarters  ])robably  in  the 
West  Indies,  where  they  are  known  to  be  nunn-rous,  as  well  as 
in  Mexico,  Louisiana,  and  Texas  ;  but  they  do  not  ever  extend 
their  northern  migrations  as  far  as  the  Middle  States.  Trevi- 
ous  to  their  de])arturc,  at  the  approach  of  winter,  they  are  seen 
to  assemble  in  large  flocks,  and  every  morning  flights  of  them, 
at  a  great  height,  are  seen  moving  away  to  the  south. 

lake  most  gregarious  birds,  they  are  of  a  very  sociable 
disposition,  and  are  frecjuently  obser\-ed  to  mingle  with  the 
common  Crow  IMackbirds.  They  assemble  in  great  numbers 
among  the  sea  islands,  and  neighboring  marshes  on  the  main- 
land, where  they  feed  at  low  water  on  the  oyster-beds  and  sand- 
flats.  Like  (rows,  they  are  onmivorous,  their  food  consisting 
of  insects,  small  shell-fish,  corn,  and  small  grain,  so  that  by 
turns  they  may  be  viewed  as  the  friend  or  i)lunderer  of  the 
j)lanter. 


4 

1 


I'Lkl'I.K  (iUACKLE. 


1  I 


n  female. 
114th  15  to 
umgiug  10 
hcs. 

cemented 
or  near  a 

iked  with 


[he  Jack- 
ion  only, 
ihcy  arc 
^'ebniary, 
to  \vhi(  h 
pbout  the 
iniate   ot 
in  llic 
IS  well  as 
extend 
I'lovi- 
arc  seen 
of  them, 

sociable 
with  the 
munbers 
le  main- 
ind  sand- 
■onsi^tinif 
that  by 
er  of  the 


The  note  of  this  species  is  louder  than  that  of  the  connnon 
kin<l,  according;  to  Audubon  resembling  a  l«nid.  >hrill  whittle, 
often  accompanied  by  a  cry  like  i/iik  iriik  </«v.  and  in  the 
breed  nig- season  changing  almost  into  a  warble.  'I  hey  are  only 
hcani  to  sing  in  the  spring,  and  their  concert,  though  inclining 
to  sadness,  is  not  altogether  disagreeable.  Their  nests  are 
built  m  company,  on  retils  and  bushes,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  -salt-marshes  ami  ponds.  They  begin  to  lay  alx>ut  the 
K-ginning  of  April  ;  soon  after  which  the  males  leave  their 
mates,  not  only  with  the  care  of  in<  ubation,  but  with  the  rear- 
ing of  the  young,  moving  about  in  sei)arate  tl«wki  like  the 
("owbirds,  without  taking  anv  interest  in  thf  faie  (jf  their 
progeny. 

This  species  is  rarely  found  north  of  Virginia.  .Several  instances 
of  its  occurrence  in  New  l-ngland  have  been  rcijortcd  :  but  tlie 
correctness  of  these  reports  has  been  c  iiallenged  and  Mr.  .\llen 
omitted  the  species  from  his  list  of  .Ma.ssachr-  ctts  birds  issued  in 
1886. 


PURPl.i:    CRACKLE. 

CKnW    1;L.\CKI!IRI). 
Qr  ISC  ALLS   gLI.^Cl  I-A. 

Char.  Rlack,  wiili  rich  metallic  tints  of  steel  blue  and  purple,  the 
fcmak  somewhat  duller.     I.eiigtii,   11    to   ij'^  inches. 

A'tst.  (  hi  the  luaucli  of  ,1  tree  or  in  a  hollow  stub;  hirge  and  roughly 
made  <jf  co.UNe  gia-s  and  twigs,  and  lined  with  tiner  grass,  sometimes 
cemented  with  mud. 

HiX^.  4-(i  ;  extremely  varial)le  in  shape,  color,  and  .size  ;  ground  color 
gretnish  white  to  rcildish  brown,  with  irregular  markings  of  dark  brown  ; 
1.^5  j<  0.90. 

This  very  common  bird  is  an  occasional  or  constant  resident 
in  every  jjart  of  America,  from  IludscMi's  l!ay  and  the  northern 
inierior  to  the  Creat  .Antilles,  within  the  tropic.  In  most  jxirts 
of  this  wide  region  they  also  breed,  at  least  from  Nova  Scotia  to 
I^uisiana,  and  probably  farther  stnith.  Into  the  States  north 
of  Virginia  they  begin  U)  migrate  from  the  beginning  of  March 


1^' 


i:    i 


Jl 


Ji6 


SIM.IN*.    15IRIJS. 


to  May,  Icavinfj  those  couiitrii's  ai,Min  in  minicrous  troops  about 
the  middle  o\'  Nosemher.  Thus  assemMrd  iVoin  thi-  NoiUi  and 
\\\-<t  in  incnasini,'  nuinhers,  they  wholly  owrnin,  at  tinio.  the 
wanner  maritime  re,i,Mnns,  where  they  assi'mi)le  to  l).l.^>  the 
winter  in  the  it)mi)an\  of  tluir  well-known  cousins  tlu-  \\v(\- 
wiuL^i'd  1  ro()i)ial:i  or  illackbirds  ;  lor  jxjth,  imjielled  l)\  the 
same  predatory  api)etite,  and  lo\c  ot"  etjuitortahle  winter 
(|uarters,  an-  often  thus  u  (  ulentally  ;issociated  in  the  plun- 
dcrini,'  and  jfleanm.L,'  of  tlu-  plantations.  Ihe  am,i/in,n 
numhers  in  which  the  present  spi-cies  associate  are  almost 
incndihle.  Wilson  relates  that  on  the  joth  of  January,  a  tew 
miles  fn)ni  the  hanks  of  the  Kojuoke  in  X'iri^inia,  be  met  wnh 
one  of  those  prodii^iou-.  arnnes  of  lllackhirds,  which,  as  he  ap- 
proached, rose  from  the  Nurroundini,'  liilds  with  a  noise  like 
thunder,  and  descending;  on  the  >iirel<  h  of  ro.id  before  him, 
coxered  it  and  the  fences  compK'tely  with  Mack  ;  rising  again, 
after  a  t'lw  (.•volutions,  tlu'y  di'scendi'd  o;i  ilu-  ^.kirt  of  a  leallcNS 
wood,  SO  thick  as  to  gi\e  the  whole  forest,  for  a  considerable 
extent,  the  ap|)earance  of  being  shrouded  in  mourning,  the 
numbers  amounting  |)robal)ly  to  many  iMudreds  of  thousands. 
Their  notes  an<l  screams  ri'scmbled  the  distant  sound  of  a 
mighty  cataract,  but  strangely  attuned  into  a  musical  cadence, 
which  rose  and  fell  with  the  lluctuation  (jf  the  hree/e,  like  the 
magic  harp  of  ,  l-lolus. 

Their  depredations  on  the  maize  crop  or  Indian  corn  com- 
mence almost  with  the  ])laiuing.  The  infant  bladi-s  no  sooner 
ap[)ear  than  they  .ire  haiK'd  by  the  greedy  lllackbird  as  the 
signal  for  a  fea.st ;  and  without  hesitation,  they  descend  on  the 
fields,  and  regale  themselves  with  tlie  sweet  and  sprouted  seed, 
rejecting  and  scattering  the  blades  around  as  an  evidence  of 
their  mischief  and  au<la(  ity.  Again,  about  the  beginning  of 
August,  while  the  grain  is  in  the  milky  state,  their  attacks  are 
ri'Uewed  with  the  most  destructive  effect,  as  they  now  assemble 
as  It  were  in  clouds,  and  pillage  the  fields  to  such  a  degree 
that  in  some'  low  and  sheltered  situations,  in  the  \'icinity  of 
ri\ers,  where  they  delight  to  roam,  one  tburth  of  the  crop  is 
devoured   bv  thesi- vexatious  visitors.       The  gun,  also,  notwith- 


( 


I'L  Rli.l     i.KAiKl.i:. 


»«7 


[IS  about 
Dfth  an«l 

lu-  Krd- 

by    llu- 

■    winliT 

he   l4un- 

ania/ii\j; 

(_■   ahnost 

ry,  a  tVw 

\m[  Willi 

as  hi-  ap- 

loisL'   like 

^forc  him, 

ng  aLi.iin, 
a  Icalli'MS 
iisidfiablc 
iniULi;,  iho 
honsands. 

)\inil  ill  ;v 
(■ailcntr, 

\v,  \\kc  the 

■orn  com- 
|ni)  sooner 
11  nl  as  the 
ncl  on  the 
ited  seed, 
lidence  of 
mninii;  ol 
lltacks  are 
assemble 
a  de,u;ree 
icinity  of 
|he  croi)  is 
I,  notwitli- 


1 


staiidin;;  the  havor  it  inndui  i>,  lias  htile  more  effect  than  to 
chase  them  from  une  pirl  oi  [\w  lirld  lo  ilu-  other,  hi  the 
SoiilherM  States,  in  winter,  liu'v  ho\rr  numd  the  <orn-(ril>s  m 
:»warm>,  and  boldly  peik  the  hud  j^rain  lidiii  llu-  cob  through 
the  air  openings  of  the  maga/mc.  In  (  (iii>e(|iience  of  ihoe 
reiterated  depredation-',  they  are  deli. -.led  by  the  firmer  as 
a  pe^l  '  •  his  iiuhi>tr\  ;  though  on  iluar  arrival  their  food  for 
a  long  time  consists  wholly  of  those  m>>e(  i«.  which  are  i;alculated 
to  iU>  the  most  essential  injury  lo  the  (  rops.  They  at  this  season 
frequml  ^wamp1  antl  meadtiw>.,  awA  t.imili.irly  following  the  fur- 
ro\\>  of  the  plough,  .^weep  up  all  the  gnili-wonns  ami  other 
noxious  animals  a^  -.oon  as  the)  a|ip(.ar,  even  scratching  uj)  the 
loose  soil,  thai  nothing  of  this  kind  inav  exape  iluni.  Ip  to  the 
time  of  harvest  I  have  imiforml),  on  dissection,  found  their  food 
to  consist  of  these  iarxai,  caterpillars,  moths,  and  beetles,  of 
which  they  tlevour  such  numbers  that  i)nt  f)r  tlii>.  providential 
economy  the  whole  crop  of  grain,  in  many  placrs.  would  |)rob- 
ably  be  destroyed  by  ihe  tune  it  began  to  germinate.  In 
winter  they  collect  the  ma.>,t  of  ihe  beei  h  and  oak  fir  food, 
and  iiiav  be  ^eeil  assembled  in  large  bodies  in  the  wood>  for 
thi^  purpose.  In  the  s[)ring  season  the  iShu  kbirds  rtjo^l  in  the 
cellars  and  piiu'-irees,  to  wIik  h  in  tlu'  evi-ning  they  retiii'  with 
friendly  aii<l  mutual  chatter.  (  )n  ihe  tallest  of  thoe  trees,  as 
well  as  in  bu>hes,  thev  generally  build  their  nests,  —  which  work, 
like  all  thi'ir  movements,  is  coinmonlv  pi'rlbnm'd  in  soeietv,  >o 
that  lo  or  15  of  them  Arc  often  seen  in  thi'  same  tree;  and 
sometimes  the\  have  been  known  to  thrust  tluir  nests  into 
the  interstices  of  the  fish  Hawk's  evry,  as  if  fir  safety  and 
protection.  ( )cc;isi()nal!v  thev  bri'cil  in  tall  poplars  lu-ar  to 
habit  itions,  and  if  not  moloied.  continue  to  resort  to  the  same 


hlace 


tor  sevi 


ral 


vears  m  succi's->ion. 


he  nest    is  compos-d 


of  mud,  mi.M'd  with  stalks  and  knottv  roots  of  grass,  and  lined 
with  fine  dry  grass  and  hor^e  hair.  According  to  Audubon, 
the  same  species  in  tin-  Southern  States  nests  in  the  hollows  of 
decayed  trees,  after  the  nianiuT  of  the  Woodjiecker,  lining  the 


cavitv  with  grass  and  mui 


hi'V  seltlom 


Id. 


produ 


ce  more 


th. 


in  a 


single  brood  in  the  season.     In  the  autumn,  and  at  the  apjiroach 


r 
I 

1 


ii8 


SINGING    UIRI;S. 


Ill 

If! 


otwintiT,  mmuTotis  tlut  ks,  afti-r  foMgmg  thr()UL;li  the  tlay,  rctiini 
from  t:onsi(lcniblc  ilisUiiucs  lo  ihcir  general  rousts  among  tlie 
rceils.  On  approai  lung  ihcir  station,  each  ilciachmcnt,  as  it 
arrives,  in  straggling  groups  like  cn^ws,  sweeps  round  the  ma^^h 
in  \va\  ing  llighl,  I'ornung  i  inles  ;  amidst  these  hodies,  the  note 
(jf  the  old  reconnoitring  leader  may  be  heard,  and  no  sooner 
li.is  Ik'  li\ed  upon  the  intended  spot  than  they  all  descend  and 
take  their  stations  in  an  instant.  At  this  time  they  are  also 
Irecpiently  accompanied  by  the  Ferruginous  speties,  with  which 
they  associate  in  a  friendly  manner. 

The  IJkukbinl  is  easily  tamed,  sings  in  confmcnuiU,  and 
may  be  taught  to  artii  ulate  some  few  words  jiretty  distinctly. 
Among  the  variety  of  its  natural  notes,  the  ]>eculiarly  affected 
sibilalion  of  the  Starling  is  heard  in  the  'icottitshci',  icd//t/s/ur, 
ami  whistle,  which  often  accomi)ames  this  note. 

In  Nuttall's  day  variety  making  had  not  conic  in  fashicm,  and 
the  systematists  were  content  to  treat  the  Crow  I'.lackbirds  ol  east- 
ern North  America  as  of  one  form.  Now  we  have  three  forms, 
wit!)  three  '*  distiiutive  scieiititic  ai)pellatioiis."  It  is  somewhat 
(litlieiilt  to  (listiiigiiish  these  lorms.  e.\re|)t  in  extreme  phases  of 
plumage,  for  many  specimens  of  the  Northern  variety  liave  tiie 
diagnostic  characters  of  the  Southern  birds.  The  i)resent  race  is 
said  to  occur  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  the  Inited  States,  north  to 
.Massachusetts,  and  in  the  lower  valley  of  the  .Mississippi. 

Tlie  1;k()N/i;  (iu.vc  KL1-:  ((j.  qniscitla  cruiits)  lacks  the  purple 
metallic  tint  on  the  body,  that  being  replaced  by  a  tint  of  bronze; 
tlie  purple  and  blue  tints  are  restricted  to  tlie  heail  and  neck.  The 
wings  and  tail  are  purple.  This  form  is  abundant  throughout  tlie 
New  l^ngiand  Slates  and  Canada,  and  ranges  north  to  Ihulson's 
15av  'ind  west  to  the  Great  i'lains.  I  have  seen  nests  of  these 
l)irds  placed  on  the  beams  of  barns  in  New  IJrunswick.  The 
farmers  along  the  St.  lolm  and  Kenebecasis  rivers  erect  barns  on 
the  marshy  islands  and  ••  intervales  "  to  store  their  hay  until  it  can 
be  carried  to  the  maiidand  on  the  ice:  and  these  barns,  being  un- 
used during  the  l)reeding  .season,  otfer  excellent  building  sites  for 
colonies  of  Crow  lilackljirds  and  Swallows.  The  nests  are  fastened 
to  tlie  beams  with  mud  in  much  the  same  method  as  that  adopted 
by  Robins. 

A  smaller  race  witli  a  larger  tail  is  restricted  to  Florida  and  the 
adjacent  country  and  westward  to  the  .Mississippi.  It  is  named 
the  Fi.oKiD.x  (iK.vcKLi-:  (<2'  ijid^cula  ali^ceus) 


KL'>1V    IJLACKl'.lKl). 


119 


,  return 
)ng  the 
U,  as  it 
.'  mar-^h 
he  note 
sooner 
•nd  and 
are  alM) 
,h  whii  h 

Mit,  and 

i>tinctly. 

affected 

ottitsht-t\ 

hinn,  and 

Is  1)1'  i-ast- 

fc  forms, 

somewhat 

ph.iscs  of 

liave  the 

nt  race  is 

,  north  to 

Ihc  purple 
If  l)roii/.L' ; 
."ck.    The 
i^liout  llio 
1 1  lulson's 
(if    dirse 
,k.     'I'lie 
.iriis  on 
Inlil  it  can 
jcinji  un- 
sitcs  for 
fastened 
It  adopted 

la  and  the 

is  named 


Risrv  in..\CKi;iKi). 

S( oi.Ktnl'H.V.l^    I  AKol.lM'S. 

ClIAR.  Male  in  siuumL-r ;  glossy  blatk.  generally  more  or  less  feathers 
c(lj;c(l  with  rctldisli  hrown.  Male  in  winter:  tiic  hiovvn  m<ne  eun.'-pic- 
u<.u>,  the  lower  |)arts  marked  with  hully.  Kem.iie  ami  yom\g  :  dull  rusty 
brown  above,  rusty  and  a^hv  beneath.     Leh'ith  S"4  to  ij'4  inches. 

A'f^t.  Fn  a  tree  nr  on  the  ground  ;  a  lar^e  but  solid  structure  of  twJRs 
and  vines,  sometimes  lemenled  with  mud.  lined  with  K^iss  and  leaves. 

/■:.Tgs.  4-7  ;  Rrayish  preen  to  pale  green,  thickly  blotched  with  light 
and  d.irk  brown  and  purple  ;   I.oo  X  0.76. 

This  Species,  less  frecpient  than  the  i)receding,  is  often 
associated  with  it  or  with  the  Ri-d-win^ed  Troopial  or  tlie 
Cowpen  liird  ;  and  aciording  to  the  season,  they  are  found 
throuifhout  America,  fVoin  Hudson's  ll.iy  to  l"'lorida,  and  wi-st- 
ward  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  l!arly  in  April,  according  to 
Wilson,  they  pass  hastily  throtiL,di  Pennsylvania,  on  their 
return  to  the  Nortii  to  breed.  In  the  month  of  Man  h  he 
ol)Mer\ed  tiiem  oxi  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  near  K.entncky  River, 
duriiiLC  a  snow-storm.  They  arrive  in  the  viiinity  of  Hudson's 
ll.iy  about  the  bi-iiniing  of  .May,  and  feed  much  in  the  manner 
of  the  common  (row  Pilackbird  on  insects  which  they  find  on 
or  near  the  groimd.  Dr.  Richardson  saw  tliem  in  the  winter 
as  far  as  the  latitude  of  55°,  and  in  summer  they  range  to  the 
6.Sth  parallel  or  to  the  extremity  of  the  wooded  region.  They 
sing  in  the  pairing  season,  but  become  nearly  silent  while 
rearing  their  young  ;  though  when  their  brood  release  them 
from  care,  they  again  resinne  their  lay,  and  may  occasionally  be 
heard  until  the  approach  of  winter.  Their  song  is  (piite  as 
agreeable  and  musical  as  that  of  the  Starling,  and  greatly  sur- 
passes that  of  any  of  the  (Uher  species.  I  have  heard  thein 
sit'i.^ing  until  the  middle  of  October. 

They  are  said  to  build  in  trees  and  bushes  at  no  great  dis- 
tance from  the  groimd,  inaking  a  nest  similar  to  the  other 
species,  antl  lay  five  eggs,  of  a  jtale  blue  sjxjtted  with  black. 
The  young  and  old,  now  assembling  in  large  troops,  n-tire  from 
the  northern  regions  in  Sei)tember.     From  the  beginning  of 


til 


P 

1 

!: 

t 

! 

I 


I 


1 20 


SINtHNd    I'.IRDS. 


()(U)1rt  lo  the  middle  of  Novcinbcr.  ihcv  are  seen  in  tlocks 
through  the  Eastern  States.  I  )urinj;  their  stay  in  this  vieiniiy 
they  assemble  towards  night  to  nnjsl  in  or  rwuml  the  rced- 
marshes  of  l-rcsh  I'ond,  near  (  ainbridge.  ScMiietimes  they 
select  the  willows  by  the  water  lor  their  lodging,  in  preference 
to  the  reeds,  which  they  give  u\>  to  their  companions  the 
Crow  lilackbirds.  Ivirl\'  in  ()cl(,)ber  they  feed  chieily  on 
gra^)shoppers  and  berries,  and  at  a  later  |)eriod  i)ay  a  transient 
visit  to  the  corn-fields.  'I'hey  p  i^s  the  winter  in  the  Southern 
Slates,  and,  like  their  darker  relali\es,  make  fimiliar  visits  lo 
the  barn-yard  and  corn-cribs.  \\  ilson  remarks  that  they  are 
easily  domesticated,  and  in  a  few  days  become  quite  familiar, 
being  reconciled  to  any  quarters  while  sui>plied  with  plenty  of 
food. 

The  Rusty  lilackbird  breeds  from  about  the  45th  jiarallel  to  the 
lower  fur  countries.  It  is  fairly  common  near  the  .Atlantic,  but  is 
more  abundant  in  tlie  interior,  and  Mr.  'I'hompson  rei)orts  it  com- 
monlv  abuiid.mt  in  .Manitoba.  In  this  region  it  does  not  alwavs 
select  an  alder  swamp  for  a  nesting  siti-.  as  some  authors  have 
stated.  A  nest  discovered  by  my  friend  lianks  was  amid  the  upper 
branches  of  a  good  si/.ed  spruce  on  a  dry  hillside  in  .Mr.  William 
Jack's  j)ark.  near  .St.  John. 


if 


NORTHFRN    RAVI'.N. 

Corn  IS  CDR.xx  i'kiM.ii'.\i.is. 

Cn.xR.     Tll.ick  with  l)lui.sh  purple  .^los.s.     Length  22  to  zGjA  inches. 

A' >.'.  On  a  I  i;if  i>r  in  a  tree  ;  made  of  stick.s  c.uifuliy  and  compactly 
arrans^cd,  lined  with  .i;r.i>-.  or  wool,  —  icpaiied  year  after  year,  and  thus 
increased  to  c<>nsiderahle  hulk. 

/•'s:::s.  2-7  ;  pale  )livc,  marked  with  olive-brown  blotches  ami  streaks  ; 
2.00  X  1.40. 

The  sable  Raven  i^as  been  observed  and  described  from  the 
earliesi  times,  and  Is  a  resident  of  almost  every  country  in  the 
world  ;  but  is  more  particularly  al)undant  in  the  wi'stern  than 
the  eastern  parts  of  the  rnitcd  States,  where  it  extends  along 
the  Oregon  to  the  shores  of  the    Pacific.     This  ominous  bird 


^ 


NORTIIKRN    i:a\  i;.\. 


IJI 


flocks 

.-iciiuiy 
.'  rccd- 
•.-,  they 
fcrciuc 
)ns  the 
.'lly  on 
ansicnt 
juthcrn 
visits  to 
uy  are 
amiliar, 
Icntv  of 


v\  to  the 
L-,  but  is 
;  it  com- 
l  always 
)rs  have 
ic  ui)i)(.r 
WilUam 


ichcs. 

iiiipactly 
ami  thus 

>iri.Mks  ; 


lun  I  no 
,  in  the 
rn  than 
Is  alonj^ 
)iis  bird 


has  been  ijenerally  despised  and  feared  by  the  sti|>er>titious 
even  more  than  the  nocturnal  Owl,  thouL,fh  he  i>rowl>  abroad  in 
ojun  day.  lie  may  be  (unsithivd  .i>  lioldmu  a  rrlation  lo  the 
birds  (»f  i>rey.  t'etdintj;  not  only  on  carrion,  but  occasionally 
seizing  on  weakly  lambs,  youni;  hares  or  rabbil>,  and  scenis 
indeed  to  give  .i  preference  lo  inim  il  food  ;  but  at  tlu'  same 
time,  he  i>>  able  to  live  on  all  kinds  of  fruits  .mil  ijrain.  .is  w«ll 
as  insects,  earth-worms,  e\en  de.id  lish.  md  in  ad<lition  to  all, 
i>  particularly  fond  of  eggs,  so  that  no  aniui.il  >>e(.iii>  mcjre  truly 
omnivorous  than  the  K.iven. 

If  we  take  into  consideration  hi  indiscriminnting  xorn  ity, 
sombre  Ii\i.  ry.  dix  ordant,  croaking  (  ry,  with  his  ignoble,  wild, 
and  I'unere.il  .i.>.pect,  we  nei-d  not  be  surprised  that  in  times  of 
ignor.in*  e  and  error  he  should  have  bei-n  mo  generally  reg.irded 
as  an  object  of  disgtist  and  fear.  lb-  stood  pre-eminent  m  the 
h-<t  of  ^iniMter  binb,  or  those  whose  onh  pinnonition  w.i>  the 
annoinn  ing  of  misfortunes  :  ;ind.  strang(  to  tell,  there  are  many 
people  vet  in  I'.tiropr.  e\en  in  this  enlightened  ,ige,  who  trem- 
ble and  l»eeome  uni'asy  at  the  sound  of  hi~.  h.irmless  croaking. 
.\<("rding  to  Ad.iir,  the  Southern  aboiigiiu-s  abo  invoke  the 
Raven  for  those  who  are  sick,  mimicking  his  voi*  t-  ;  and  th\* 
natives  of  the  Missouri,  assuming  black  as  tlu-ir  emblem  of 
war,  decorate  theinselvt's  on  thosi-  o(  e.isions  with  the  ]>lumes 
of  tins  dark  bird.  IJut  all  the  knowk-dge  of  tiie  future.  f)r  in- 
ten-st  in  destiny,  possessed  by  the  Raven,  like  that  of  other 
inhabitants  of  tl;e  air,  is  boimded  by  an  in>tiu(ti\e  ferling  ol 
the  <  hangi'S  whic-h  are  abotit  to  happen  in  thi;  atmospiu-n-,  .uitl 
whi(  h  hi-  has  the  ftculty  of  annouiK  ing  by  ceit.iin  cries  and 
actions  produced  l>y  these  exterr  il  impr- ssions.  In  the  south 
ern  provinces  of  Swiden,  as  I.inniuus  remarks,  when  the  sky  i>. 
serene  the  Raxcn  llies  vi-ry  high  and  utters  a  hollow  sound, 
like  the  word  tA'f/'^',  whi(  h  is  heard  to  a  great  distanci-.  Some- 
times he  has  been  se«'n  in  the  mi(bt  of  ;i  thunder-storm  with 
the  electri*-  fire  streaming  fn)m  tlu-  exiri'inity  of  his  bill. --a 
natural  though  extraordinary  ])henotnenon,  sufti<  lent  to  territy 
the  snpcistitious  and  to  stanij)  the  harmless  subject  of  il  with 
the  imaginary  Ir.iits  and  attributes  of  a  demon. 


122 


SIXClIN'd    BIRDS. 


In  ancient  times,  when  divination  made  a  part  of  religion. 
the  i\avcn,  though  a  bad  projjhet,  was  yet  a  very  interesting 
bird  ;  tor  the  i)assion  for  prying  into  future  events,  even  the 
moM  dark  and  sorrowful,  is  an  original  ])ropensity  of  human 
nature.  Accordingly,  all  the  actions  of  this  sombre  bird,  all 
the  circumstances  of  its  flight,  and  all  the  diiTerent  intonations 
of  its  discordant  voice,  of  which  no  less  than  sixty-four  were 
remarked,  had  each  of  them  an  appropriate  signification;  anl 
there  were  never  wanting  impostors  to  i)rocure  this  pretended 
intelligence,  nor  |)eople  simple  enough  to  credit  it.  Some 
even  went  so  far  as  to  impose  upon  themselves,  by  devouring 
the  heart  and  entrails  of  the  ilisgusling  Kasen,  in  ihe  strange 
hopi'  of  thus  ajijiropriating  its  supposed  gift  of  prophecy. 

The  Raven  indeetl  not  only  possesses  a  great  many  natural 
intli'ctions  of  voice  corres|)onding  to  its  various  feelings,  but  it 
has  also  a  talent  for  imitating  the  cries  of  other  animals,  and 
even  mimicking  language.  According  to  I'.uribu,  ct'/iis  is  a 
word  which  he  [)ronounces  with  i)eculiar  facility.  Connecting 
cinumstances  with  his  wants,  Scaliger  heard  one,  whicdi  when 
hungr\',  learnt  \er\'  distinctly  to  call  upon  Conrad  the  c(jok. 
The  first  of  these  words  bears  a  great  resemblance  to  one  of 
the  ordinar)'  cries  of  this  species,  kouui/Zii/i,  ko:^<alldh.  liesides 
possessing  in  some  measure  the  ficulty  of  imitating  human 
speech,  they  are  at  times  ca[)able  of  manifesting  a  durable 
attachment  to  their  keeper,  and  become  funiliar  about  the 
house. 

The  sense  of  smell,  or  rather  that  of  sight,  is  very  acute  in 
the  Raven,  so  that  he  discerns  the  carrion,  on  which  he  ot"ten 
teeds,  at  a  great  distanc:e.  ThucydideN  twn  attributes  to  him 
the  sagacity  of  avoiding  to  teed  on  animals  which  had  died  of 
the  i)lague.  I'liny  relates  a  singular  piece  of  ingenuity  em- 
ployed by  this  bird  to  (piench  his  thirst  :  he  had  obserx'ed 
water  near  the  bottom  of  a  narrow-necked  vase,  to  obtain 
which,  he  is  said  to  ha\e  thrown  in  pebbles,  (jne  at  a  time, 
until  the  pile  I'levated  the  water  within  iiis  reach.  Nor  does 
this  trait,  singular  as  it  is,  ap])ear  to  be  much  more  sagacious 
than  that  of  i  arrying  uj)  nuts  and  shell-fish  into  the  air,  and 


L-resliiig 
ven  the 

human 
bird,  all 
:)nations 
ur  were 
)n  ;  an  I 
ctcndcil 
Sonic 
jvouring 

strange 

natural 

;s,  but  it 

Kils,  and 

>/tis   is  a 

nnccting 

t;h  when 

10  look. 

)  one  ot 

Iksitles 

lnunan 

durable 

)out   the 

uute  in 
he  often 
s  to  him 

died  ot" 
uity  eni- 
)bserved 
)  obtain 

a  time, 

[ot  does 

agacious 

air,  and 


NUKTHERN    RAVEN. 


123 


drojiping  them  on  rocks,  for  the  purpose  of  breaking  them 
to  obtain  their  contents,  otherwise  beyond  iiis  reach,  —  faits 
obser\ed  by  men  of  credit,  and  recorded  as  an  instiiK  t  of  the 
Raven  by  I'ennant  and  Latham.  It  is,  however,  seldom  ih.it 
these  birds,  any  more  than  the  rajtacious  kinds,  feel  an  inclina- 
tion for  drinking,  as  their  thirst  is  usually  iiuenched  by  the 
blood  and  juices  of  their  prey.  'I'he  Ra\ens  are  also  more 
social  than  the  birds  of  prey,  —  which  arises  from  thr  itromis- 
cuous  nature  and  conseciuent  abmulance  of  their  food,  which 
allows  a  greater  number  to  subsist  together  in  the  same  pLu  e, 
without  bein^  urgetl  to  the  stern  necessity  of  solitude  or  Lim- 
ine,—  a  condition  to  which  the  true  rapat  ions  binls  are  always 
driven.  Ihe  habits  of  these  birds  are  much  nnjre  gener.iUy 
harmless  than  is  usually  imagined  ;  they  are  useful  to  the  farmer 
in  the  destruction  they  make  of  moles  and  mice,  anil  are  often 
ver\  well  (oiuenled  with  insects  anil  earth-worms. 

'I'hough  spread  o\er  the  wIkjIc  world,  the\'  are  rarely  ever 
birds  of  |)assage,  enduring  the  winters  e\en  of  tlie  Arc  ii(  i  ir(  le, 
or  the  warmth  of  Mexico.  St.  l)omingo,  and  Madagascar. 
'Ihey  are  particularly  attachetl  to  the  rocky  e\iies  where  they 
have  been  breil  and  i)aired.  'i'hroughout  the  Near  tluy  are 
observed  together  in  nearly  e(|ual  numbers,  anil  they  never 
entirely  abandon  this  adopted  Ikjiih*.  If  they  descend  into 
the  plain,  it  is  to  collect  s.ibsistence  :  b'lt  they  resort  to  the 
low  grounds  more  in  winter  than  summer,  as  thev  avoid  th«.' 
he  It  and  dislike  lo  wander  from  their  cool  retreats.  Tlu'v  never 
rco^l  m  the  woods,  like  (rows,  and  li.ive  suMk  ient  sagaciiv  to 
choose  in  their  nx  ky  retreats  a  situation  det'i-nded  Irom  the 
winds  of  the  north.  — commonly  under  the  natural  vault  toriiud 
b\  an  extending  ledge  or  cavity  of  the  rock.  Here  they  retire 
during  the  i^.ight  in  companies  of  15  to  20.  They  perch  upon 
the  bushes  which  grow  straggling  in  the  clefts  of  tlu'  rocks  ; 
but  tliey  form  their  nests  in  the  rock)-  crevices,  or  in  the 
holes  of  tin-  moul('ering  walls,  at  the  summits  of  ruined  towers  ; 
and  sometimes  upon  the  high  bran*  hes  of  large  and  solitary 
trees.  After  they  have  paired,  their  fidelity  ap])ears  to  continue 
through  life.     The  male  expresses  his  attachment  by  a  particu- 


124 


SrXCJNC.    I'.IRDS. 


If 


II' 


!ar  ^;r;lin  m'  cio.ikiiiu.  .iml  both  si'\r>  arc  ohst-rvcd  c.irL'^siUL;.  by 
aj)|tr();t(hiiiii  ilu'ir  l)ill>,  with  ;is  iiiiK  h  >riiibl.inrr  ol  aiiciiion  as 
tlu'  tnu'^t  lurllf-(l()\cs.  Ill  kuipriMU-  cliin.Uo  ihr  K.ism  bc- 
gin^  It)  i.iv  111  tlK'  inoiillis  i.t"  I'lbniuv  or  M,ir<  h.  'Ilir  (.j^u^  arc 
5  wr  (I.  of  a  [jalc,  iiiiiilil\'  bltii.->li  ,uri-iii,  marked  wilh  liumrroiis 
s|i(il>  ami  lilies  of  il.irk  olise  brouii.  Slu-  ^iis  about  20  days, 
and  diiriui;  tlii->  liiiu-  liie  iiiale  lakes  care  to  proNJde  lier  with 
abiindaiK  e  ol" noiirisluneiit.  Indeed,  from  llie  <|uainilv  or.main, 
null,  and  tViiils  which  iia\e  been  found  at  thiN  time  in  the  envi- 
rons of  the  nest,  tlii->  Mijiiilv  would  a|i|iear  to  be  a  store  laid  up 
for  future  occasions.  \\  hati-N^r  ma\  lie  their  l"orethou,Lrht  re- 
j^ardinLi  food,  tlie\  lia\'e  a  wi'll  known  |ir' i|irn>ity  i'-  hiile  things 
uhirh  (  onu'  within  their  re  it  h.  thoiiLih  usele>s  to  tlieinseKes, 
aiitl  .ippear  tti  L;i\t.'  a  pn  fereiit a-  to  pieta^  ol  metal,  or  aiiy- 
thiii,U  whit  h  ha->  a  brihiaiit  appearaiK  e.  At  jalnrt.  oik'  *  f 
these  biitis  li  itl  the  patient  e  tt)  t  arr\  antl  liiile,  t)ne  by  tmc, 
iindiT  a  ^tone  in  the  L,'artien,  a  i|uantity  tif  .>,mall  pieces  of 
nioiuN',  wiiiili  amounted,  when  discovcreil.  to  5  tir  (>  llorins  ; 
aiiil  there  are  few  countries  which  cannot  aliord  similar  iii-.taii- 
ces  of  their  iloiiiestic  tlielN. 

( )f  the  perse\i'ra!ice  ol  the  l\.a\en  in  the  act  of  iiit  iibatriai, 
Mr.  \\  liiti-  has  relaictl  tlu  follow  inn  remarkable  ane(tl»)te  :  in 
the  centre  t)f  a  uitivc  near  SelboriU'  tlu're  stooil  a  tall  i;id 
shapeli-ss  oak  which  bnliieti  <  tii  into  ;  1  arue  e\t  rest  laice  lu-ar 
the  miildle  of  the  sleia.  (  >ii  thi-  lave  a  pair  of  l\a\ens  hat! 
fixed  their  re^ithait c  for  -  1  h  a  scrie..  .)f  years  that  the  oak 
was  distin-iuished  bv  the  title  tif  ''The  Ravi'ii  Tree."  Many 
were  the  aMempt>  tif  the  lua^hborm.u  ymith-^  to  ,L,^i  at  this  nest. 
'I'he  tlillicultv  wliettt  ti  their  inclinatitiiis,  ami  each  was  .inibi- 
tioiis  tif  at  I  taiipli>liinu  the  arduous  task  ;  but  when  they  arri\< d 
at  the  swa'lliiU!,  it  jntteil  out  so  in  their  w.i\.  aiitl  was  so  lar 
bevoml  their  },Masp,  that  the  bolili-st  lads  were  ilelerred,  ami 
at  kiiowleilm'tl  the  limit  rtikiiiL;'  to  be  too  ha/arilous.  'i'hns  the 
iia\ii.s  I oiitinuetl  to  buiM.  aiitl  rear  their  vtiuiiL;  in  set  iirily, 
until  the  fatal  tlav  tin  whit  h  the  W(n)t|  was  tti  be  levelleil. 
'l'hi^  wa  in  the  month  of  l'ibruar\,  when  these  birds  usually 
beL'iii  to  >it.      ll'.e  r^aw  was  applii'tl  it)  the  inmk,  the  wt-ti^es 


.\()i;i  iii:r\   uv\i:v. 


i-\> 


were  driven,  the  woods  ft  limd  to  the  liea'.v  blows  of  the  hfi-tle 
or  lii.ilii't.  and  thr  Ww  middid  to  ili  tall  ;  hul  >till  ihe  de\ote<l 
l\a\fn  M  It  oil.  At  la^t,  wluii  it  L;ivt.'  w.i\.  -.he  wa.^  ihinj,'  iVnm 
her  an(  lent  r\r\  ;  and  a  \ittiiii  !<•  jiireiital  att'r(  tion,  wa-, 
whippiii  down  by  the  lwig>,  .md  lirt>ughi  lil».li-.-.s  to  liic 
j^roinid. 

'I'lu-  voiiiil;,  at  \n>\.  more  wink-  than  l)lai  k.  arc  I'l  d  1>\'  l«itid 
|)ri\  i')ii>l\  pripirrd  in  ilu'  •  raw  ol  the  ninthfr  ami  ilu-n  di-. 
goriii'd  by  the  bill,  nearly  iii  die  uiamu'r  ni  I'luion^.  i  hr  nialc 
at  this  time,  doubly  vi,L,'ii  int  and  indii>liit»u>,  ni>t  i>nl\  |»rii\idis 
for.  but  defends  his  lainilN  Ni.noroii^ly  hom  i\ir\  h<i>tile  ail.n  k, 
and  shows  a  i)artinilar  iinnity  to  the  Kite  win  n  he  ap])*' ii>  in 
his  neiijhborhotxl,  po'iiK  inj;  tipun  him  and  sinking;  with  Ium 
bill  until  sonu'times  both  antaijonists  diMend  to  tlu-  ,nrv>und. 
'J'he  youn-,'  are  lont(  and  ailit  lioiiati-Iy  1"'  d  by  the  paniil>  ;  and 
though  they  soon  lea\f  tin-  ii(-.i,  lluy  ninain  pi  i<  liiiiL'  on  liie 
neii:hborin|4  rocks,  yt-t  unablr  to  makr  an\  t\ti  iimw  iIil;!!'..  ;:nd 
pass  the  time  in  continual  < omiilainini,'  crie>  till  the  approach 
ot  the  parent  with  too<l,  wlu-n  tlnir  note  chanm>.  into  ./(/<■••, 
traii.'.  c/ii'o.  Now  and  tin  n  a>  tluv  i:.nn  strcnu'th  ihev  make 
efforts  to  tlv,  and  then  return  to  their  n)(  k\'  roo>,t.  About  15 
days  .ifter  leavin.:.;  the  not.  tlu\-  become  bo  well  pnparid  for 
lliuht  as  to  a(«t>inpany  the  parent-,  out  on  their  e.\(  ursioiis  from 
morning  to  nigh'  ;  ami  it  is  amusing  to  wat(  h  the  progress  of 
this  affectionate  a>so(  i  iti on,  the  nouiil;  continuing  the  whole 
sinnnu-r  to  go  out  with  ilir  old  in  tlie  morning,  and  as  regularlv 
return  with  tiuau  again  in  die  e\cning.  so  tint  howcsi  r  u--  m.iv 
despise  the  appelue  of  the  K,i\i  n,  wr  c.inm»t  1  :t  admire  the 
instincti\e  morality  of  his  n aiure. 

lake  birds  of  prev,  the  R  neiis  rejert  from  tb.e  •,tonvch,  by 
the  bill,  the  hard  and  indigestible  parts  ..f  tlu  ir  foo.l.  a-  the 
stones  of  fruit  and  tlie  bones  of  Miiall  ri-,h.  whirli  the\  xune- 
tiines  cat. 


The  .Vortluru  Raven  has  been  separated  lately  trnm  t!ie 
'•. Mexican  "  race  (for  whieli  latter  the  name  ot  •.iniiiitin  has  been 
retained  I :  and  the  di^trilnitinii  ot  the  .\le.\ie.in  bird  is  given 
a.s  from    tiie    Koeky    .Mount.iiiis   westward.      1  he    iiortiurn    form 


i  t 


?t 


ma 


126 


SIM.INHi    niRDS. 


occurs  thmuG^hout  C.inada  iiottli  to  the  Arctic  Ocean  and  west  to 
the   I'acitic. 

()£  late  years  the  Raven  has  ahnost  forsaken  the  New  Knuhmd 
shores,  tlioui^h  it  is  still  nunierous  iiroinul  tiie  l'>av  of  i'lnidy.  and 
occurs  locally  in  small  numbers  alouLJ  the  coast  (if  tlu-  Atlantic  to 
.\<irth  (-'arolina.  In  the  west  it  ran;,a's  south  to  northern  .Miihi^an 
and  r>ritish  C"oluml)ia.  It  is  more  aliundantto  the  westward  of  the 
Mississipi)!  th  in  in  the  Eastern  States. 


CROW. 

COKVIS    AMI.kHAN'US. 

Char,     llhick,  witli  gloss  of  piuple  tinge.      Length  17  to  21  inches. 
AVjA     In  .1  tree  ;  ni;ule  of  sULk>  and  twigs,  liiieil  with  grass  and  leaves 
£^%''S.     4-6;  ^ea-green  to  dull  olisc,  blotched  with  hidw  11  ;   l.~o  a.  1.20. 

'I'lic  Crow,  like  the  Kawii.  which  it  .greatly  resciiihlos,  is  a 
dcni/.i'ii  (d"  nearly  the  whole  world.  It  is  louml  c\cii  in  \iw 
Holland  and  the  I'liilippine  Ulands.  but  is  rare  in  Sweden, 
where  tne  Raven  abounds.  It  is  also  (ouimon  in  Siberia,  ami 
pleiuilnl  in  the  Arctic  de>erts  Ix'yoiid  the  Lena. 

The  n.itive  ('row  i-i  a  coiistaiu  mul  trotdjlesomclv  abundant 
resident  in  most  of  the  settled  districts  of  North  Aiui-rica, 
as  well  as  an  itih.ibitaiil  'd  the  \\\"stcrn  wilds  throui^hont 
the  !<()(  ky  Mountains,  to  ihe  banks  ol'  tin-  ( )re,uon  and  the 
shores  of  tlu-  I'acitic.  These  birds  only  retire  into  the  forests 
in  the  breeding  s.  i-on,  whi(di  lasts  fr"ni  Manh  to  Mav.  At 
this  time  ih;v  are  disper-cd  tlirouudi  the  wood^  in  pairs,  and 
roost  in  the  ni'i,Lrhborli(  >od  of  the  soot  which  the\ha\e  selected 
for  their  ne^t  :  .iml  the  (oniuiial  union,  once  fonned.  continues 
for  life.  The','  are  now  wvy  noisw  and  \ii,dlant  at^ainst  any 
intrnsi.  p  >n  di  ■!.  purjjose,  and  at  times  .ijipi-ar  influenced  by 
mutti  d  iealousy,  ''Mt  neviT  j)roceed  to  any  violence.  The 
tree  they  select  's  u'nerally  lofty,  and  piefert-nce  seems  olten 
LMven  to  some  d  id.  .ind  conce.ilin^  evert,'reen.  'Ihe  nest  is 
fonned  extern. dly  of  small  twii^s  coarsely  interlaced  together, 
plastered  ami  ;  latted  with  t.irth,  nwss  and   long   horse  hair. 


CKUW. 


\2: 


\ 


and  thickly  ainl  carffnlly  liiu-d  with  large  (luantitifs  of  tin-  la>t 
iiiattri.il,  \v(»)l,  or  the  finest  I'lbres  o{'  roots,  so  as  to  Ibnn  a  very 
comfortahle  bed  lor  the  hel|)les->  and  naked  \ounj;. 

The  male  at  this  season  is  exlrenielv  uai<  htiil.  reconnoitring; 
the  neinhborhotxl,  and  givini;  an  alarm  as  any  i»erson  ha|>]nn-> 
to  approach  towards  their  ne^i,  when  both  retire  to  a  di^tance 
till  the  intruder  disappears  ;  and  in  order  the  l)i'tler  to  (onciMJ 
their  brood,  they  remain  uncommonly  silent  until  these  are  in 
a  situation  to  follow  them  on  tin-  wing.  The  mile  aKo  carries 
food  to  his  mate  while  confme<l  to  hi  r  eggs,  and  at  times 
relieves  her  by  sitting  in  lu-r  ab>en(  e.  In  I'.uropr,  when  thi' 
Ka\'en,  the  Mu//.ard,  or  the  Kestrel  makes  hi^  ippianiKH'.  tlu' 
|)air  join  instantly  in  the  attack,  and  sometime^,  b\  dinl  ot'  furi- 
ous blows,  destroy  tlu-ir  iiiemv  :  vrt  tlu'  liul(  lur  Uird,  more 
alert  and  courageous,  not  only  n  si-t-^,  but  often  \:ini(ui>hes 
the  Crows  and  carries  olf  their  voiing.  I. ike  the  K,i\ens. 
endued  with  an  umestrained  aixl  natural  alfec  lion.  lhe\  ( on- 
tinue  the  whole  suc<ei-ding  sununer  to  suc(  or  and  a(  coiuiiain 
their  offspring  in  all  their  und'-rtakiugs  and  e\t  uisious. 

I'he  Crow  is  ei|uallv  omni\orous  with  the  I-',  inch  :  insi'cis. 
worms,  carrion.  Ildi.  grain,  fruits,  and  in  >hon  e\ervlhiug 
digestilile  b\'  an\'  or  all  the  birds  in  e\isteu( f,  bi-ing  alike 
a«( cptable  to  this  gormandizmg  animal.  Its  (k'Ntru(  lion  oi 
bird-iggs  is  also  \frv  considerable.  In  I'.urojie  ( 'row->  are  olt".  n 
di'ti'cled  feeding  t'leir  xoracious  young  with  tii<-  pre(  ioun  eggs 
of  the  Partridge,  which  the\-  \er\'  sagaiiou^ly  loincx  b\ care 
Inllv  piercing  and  sti(  king  tliein  lAperily  on  ilu-  bill.  The\ 
also  know  how  to  break  nuts  ami  shell  fish  by  dropping  them 
from  a  grc-at  height  ttpon  the  rot  ks  below.  They  \isit  e\en  tlu 
snares  and  devour  the  birds  which  they  tlnd  c.nighi,  attacking 
tlu-  weak  i^n^l  v.'ouniled  game,  'i'hi'y  aUo  >ometinu's  seize  on 
voung  chickens  and  I  )ucks,  and  have  c\i'n  Ikt'!  ob.->tT\i'd  to 
poiiuta.'  upon  Pigeons  in  ihe  manner  (jf  Hawks,  aiul  wiih  .limost 
eijual  success.  So  fmuliar  atid  audacious  are  they  in  sonu' 
jx'.rls  of  the  Levant  that  they  will  frei|ueut  the  courts  of  houses, 
aiul,  like  I  larpii's.  alight  boldlv  on  the  dishes,  as  the  sirvants  are 
conveving  in  the  dinner,  and  (  arrv  olf  the  meat,  if  not  driven 


I 
I 


fl 


uS 


SlNl.l.NC.    1JIK1». 


M 


away  by  blows.  In  luni.  however,  the  Crow  finds  cncinit's  too 
powerful  lor  liiiii  lo  (.oii(|uer,  >iu  h  as  the  Kile  and  lia^Me  ( )wl, 
who  ()( (  j.iionally  make  a  meal  of  tliix  arrion  bird,  —  a  Norat  ious 
|jro|)  ii-^itv  whi<  h  liie  \'irL(inian  Owl  also  sonielimes  exhibits 
towar  U  the  same  species.  Wherever  the  Crow  appears,  the 
smaller  birds  t  ike  the  alarm,  and  vent  upon  him  tluir  just 
suspicions  and  rr|)roa(hes.  l!ut  U  i>  t)nly  liie  redoiiblajili' 
Kinn  l>iril  who  has  (  oura^e  for  the  att.ick,  beji;inning  the  oii>el 
1)\  pur^uin,!^  and  diein.L;  on  lii->  lii<  k  from  above,  and  haras- 
sin-  tile  phnidrrer  with  -.lu  h  violence  that  he  is  generally  glad 
to  get  out  of  the  way  and  f  )rego  his  piratical  visit  .  in  short,  a 
single  pair  of  these  courageous  and  (jnarrelsonu-  birds  are  sul- 
licicnt   to  clear  the  ("rows   from  an  e.\tensive  corntiild. 

'ihe  most  serious  mischief  of  wiiich  the  C!row  is  guilty 
is  that  of  pillaging  the  mai/e-tleid.  He  commences  al  the 
planting-time  bv  [lickiug  up  .ml  rooting  out  the  sprouting 
grain,  and  ui  the  autumn,  when  it  be(  omes  rii)e,  wlujle  llo(  ks, 
now  assi mbled  at  tin  ir  roosting- places,  blacken  the  neighboring 
fu  Ids  as  soon  as  ihi-y  get  into  motion,  and  do  exti-iisive  dam- 
age at  every  visU.  from  thr  excesMve  numbers  who  now  rush  to 
the  inviting  feast. 

'Their  rendezvous  or  roosting-]»laces  are  the  resort  in  au- 
tmnn  of  all  the  Crows  and  their  fimilies  for  many  miles  round. 
'I'he  blackening  silent  train  continues  to  arrive  for  mon  than 
an  liour  before  sunset,  and  some  still  straggle  on  until  dark. 
They  nc\er  arri\e  in  denst-  lUxks,  but  always  in  lonu  lines, 
each  tailing  into  the  liie  as  he  -.ees  opportunitv.  'rhi>  gregarious 
inclination  is  common  to  manv  binis  in  thi'  autumn  which 
a^.-iociate  only  in  pairs  in  the  summer.  The  forests  and  gro\'es, 
strii)ped  of  their  agrt'cable  and  protecting  \erdure.  see  -'  no 
longer  safe  and  pleasant  to  the  feathered  nations.  I'.xposed  to 
the  birds  of  jjiev,  which  daily  augment  in  numbers;  pi-netrated 
by  the  chilling  blasts,  which  sweep  without  control  through  the 
naked  branches,  -  the  birds,  now  inii)elled  by  an  overruling 
instinct,  seek  in  coiigregated  numbers  some  general,  safer,  and 
more  commodious  retreat.  Islands  of  reeds,  dark  and  solitary 
thickets,  and  neglecteil   swanips,  are  the  situations  chosen  for 


f 


I 
f 


\1 


ckuw. 


129 


11  au- 
)iin<l. 
ihin 
(lark, 
lines, 
irious 
vhich 

'  no 
rd  10 
lalrd 
th  the 
rulinL; 
.  and 
)liiary 
n  t\)r 


their  general  (liurnal  retreats  and  roosts.  Swallows,  IJlackbirds, 
ki«  c  liiriis,  and  (rows  stem  always  to  prctV*-  the  low  shelter  of 
rce<l-iliit>.  ( )ii  the  Kiwr  I  )clawarc,  it)  iVnnsylvania.  there  are 
two  of  these  remarkable  C'nnv  roosts.  The  (iiic  ineiitionnj  liy 
^\  ilsun  is  an  island  luar  Newcastle  called  the  iVa-l'atch,  —  a 
low,  llal,  alluvial  spot,  jii^t  elevated  alM>ve  hijrh-water  mark, 
and  thickly  covered  with  reeils,  on  which  the  C  rows  alight 
and  lake  >heller  l\jr  tin  nii^hi.  Whether  thi>  nK»>t  he  now 
«x<  upied  l)y  these  birds  or  not,  [  <  annot  j>retend  to  say  :  but  in 
l»e<cniber,  1SJ9,  1  hul  occasion  to  ob;ier\e  their  arriN.il  on 
kvcdy  island,  just  above  the  commencement  of  the  bay  of  that 
ri\ir,  in  va>t  numbers,  and  as  the  wind  wafted  any  beatini; 
%-csiM.'l  lowanls  the  shore,  they  rose  in  a  cloud  and  filleil  the 
air  whh  clamor.  hnUed,  tluir  vigilant  and  restless  iincing 
continued  till  alter  dark. 

Creatures  ol  mere  instinct,  they  foresee  no  |H:rils  beyond 
their  actual  \  ision  ;  ami  thus,  when  they  least  e\i»e<  t  it,  are 
•sometimes  swej)!  aw;iy  by  an  imexi)e(  ted  destniction.  .Some 
years  ag<»,  during  the  pre\alen(  e  of  a  sudilen  and  violent  north- 
east storm  .u( ompanied  b\  heavy  rains,  the  I'ea-I'atch  Island 
was  wholly  inundated  in  tin-  night  ;  and  the  unfortunate  (rows, 
<!<<rm:int  and  bewildered,  made  no  attempt>  to  estape,  and 
were  drowned  b\  thousands,  so  that  their  Ixxlies  bla<kened  the 
shores  the  following  da\  for  several  miles  in  extent. 

'ITie  (rows,  like  manv  other  l)ird->.  lK'«-ome  injurious  ;ind 
f jmudable  only  in  the  gregarious  season.  At  other  times  they 
live  so  scattered,  and  ire  so  shy  and  «iutious,  that  they  are 
*.—  '  Idnm  seen.  Hut  their  armies,  like  all  other  great  ami 
■  ••  ).  assemblies.  h,i\e  the  power,  in  limit«-d  districts,  of 
.  ng  \er)'  sensible  mischief  to  tlu-  agritailiural  interests  of  the 
c<;3nmunity ;  and  in  C()nsi-(|uenci',  the  poor  Crows,  notwith- 
st..'inding  their  olnioiis  ser\  i(  i-s  in  the  destmrtion  of  a  vast  host 
of  insects  and  their  larvne,  are  proscribed  as  felons  in  all  <  ivil- 
ize«i  cotmtries.  and,  with  the  wol\(>,  panthers,  and  fijxes,  a 
price  is  put  ujxm  their  heads.  In  ( onse(|uence,  various  means 
of  ensnaring  the  outlaws  have  been  had  recourse  to.  Of  the 
gwn  they  are  very  cautious,  and  suspect  its  appearance  at  the 

%'4JI_  I.  —  9 


1 


I ' 


H 


ill 


130 


siN(;iN(;  iiiKUs. 


il 


if 


III" 


first  glanrc,  porrrivinp  with  ready  saj^arity  the  wily  manner  of 
the  lowk-r.  S<)  fearliil  ami  suspicious  are  thi-y  of  huuian  arii' 
flees  th.ii  a  mere  hue  stretched  round  a  field  is  olun  found 
sufficient  to  deter  these  wily  birds  from  a  visit  to  the  cornlkld. 
Aj,Minst  poison  they  are  not  so  guarded,  and  sometimes  corn 
stee|)ed  ui  hellebore  is  given  them,  which  creates  giddiness? 
ami  death. 

Another  curious  method  is  that  of  pinning  a  live  Crow  to  the 
ground  by  the  v/ings.  stretcheti  oul  on  his  back,  and  retained 
in  this  po>ture  by  two  sharp,  forked  sticks.  In  this  situation, 
his  loud  cries  attract  other  (rows,  who  conn-  sweeping  down 
to  tlu-  prostrate  |)risoner,  and  are  grappled  in  his  claws.  In 
this  way  eat  h  successive  prisoner  may  be  made  the  innocent 
means  of  capturing  his  companion.  'I'he  reeds  in  which  they 
roost,  when  dry  enough,  are  sometimes  set  on  fire  also  to  pro- 
cure their  destruction  ;  and  to  add  to  the  fatality  produced  by 
the  (lames,  gunners  are  also  stationed  round  to  destroy  those 
that  attemjjt  to  escape  by  (light.  In  severe  winters  tluy  suffer 
occasionally  Iroiu  famine  and  cold,  and  (all  soiiuliiues  dead 
in  the  fields.  .According  to  Wilson,  in  one  of  tlu'se  severe 
seasons,  more  than  600  (rows  wert-  shot  on  the  carcase  of  a 
(lead  horse,  which  was  plated  at  a  p:t)))'T  shooting  tlistancc 
frtjin  a  stable.  The  premiums  obtainetl  fjr  these,  ami  the  price 
])rocuretl  ("or  tlu-  (juills,  prtxlnt  ttl  to  the  farmer  nearly  the  value 
of  the  horse  when  living,  besides  alCording  feathers  sufficient  to 
fill  a  betl. 

file  (row  is  easily  raisetl  and  domesticated,  and  soon  learns 
to  distinguish  the  tlifferent  members  of  the  family  with  which 
he  is  associateil.  lie  screams  at  the  approach  of  a  stranger  ; 
learns  to  open  the  tjoor  bv  alighting  on  the  latch  ;  atti'iitls 
regularly  at  meal  times  ;  is  very  nt)isy  anil  ItHiuacious  ;  imitates 
the  sounds  of  varit)ns  wt)rils  which  he  hears  ;  is  very  thievish, 
given  to  hiding  curiosities  in  ht)les  and  cievices,  and  Is  very 
ftjud  of  (  arrying  o('f  pietH's  t)f  metal,  corn,  bread,  antl  focjtl  of 
all  kinils  ;  he  is  also  particularly  attached  to  the  society  of  his 
master,  and  recollects  him  sometimes  after  a  long  absence. 

It  is  ct)mnionly  believed  and  assertetl   in  some  parts  of  this 


f 


FISH    CROW. 


lU 


ner  of 
\  arti' 
found 
ntkUl. 
s  corn 
,ilincs? 

to  the 
•taincd 
ualion, 
;  down 
ks.     In 
inoci-nl 
( h  they 
to  pro- 
le 1(1  by 
•y  those 
L'y  suffer 
L's  dead 
,'  severe 
ase  of  a 

listance 

u'  price 
Ihe  vahie 

t  icut  to 

In  learns 
111  \vlii<h 
[rani^er  ; 
attends 
lunitates 
jhievish, 
is  very 
food  of 
of  his 
lire, 
of  this 


»! 


cotnitry  that  the  Crows  enga^'e  at  tiine>  in  general  (onihat; 
but  it  has  never  biin  asi  ertained  whether  this  hostility  arises 
from  civil  dis<:ord,  or  the  opposition  of  A\'<'  different  >pi<  ies 
(  oiitistin.u  for  M)nu'  exclusive  privile^'e  of  sub^i^tinji,'  j^rounil. 
It  IS  Will  known  that  Kook>  ofiiii  «  oiiund  with  iMch  otiier, 
and  drivi'  awav  by  exery  persi-cuting  means  indivulu;ils  wIhj 
arrive  among  them  from  any  oilur  rookery. 

Noli:.  Till'  i"i  (>Kiii\  Ckow  (('.i///.'i>/itifN/\y/('ri(/<r/iNs)i\'\t(i'rs 
frniii  truf  tiiintitiiiius  in  Ii.uiiii;  tin-  win^s  .lud  t.iil  .shorter,  aiul  the 
l)ill  and  fict  lais^^or.      It  is  nstrii  led  to  southern  i'lorida. 


I'lSII    CROW. 
CoRvus  ossn  K.v(;us. 

Char.     Rlack  glossed  witli  >tcell)lue.     Lcnytli  15  to  17)^  inclics. 
A'l'st,     (Jn  a  trt'c  ;  of  >tiiks  ,iiul  l\vi,L;s  liinily  l.iid,  liiud  svitli  li:ivc>. 
/T^'i.'j.     5-7 ;    sca-grecu    or   olive,   Ijlo'.chcd   uiul   spolteil   with   brown ; 
1.50  X  1.05. 

Wil^ion  was  the  first  to  observe  the  distiiu live  traits  of  this 
smaller  and  jiec  uliar  American  species  of  Crow  along  the  sea- 
coast  of  ( leorj^ia.  It  in  met  with  a>.  fir  nortii  as  the  coast  of 
New  Jersey;  and  although  we  did  not  m'c  it  in  the  western 
interior  of  tiie  continent,  it  is  common  on  tlu'  banks  of  the 
Oregon,  where  it  was  nesting  in  the  month  of  April.  It 
keeps  apart  from  the  common  s])ecies,  and  instead  of  assem- 
bling to  roost  among  the  reeds  at  night,  ri'tires,  towards 
evening,  from  the  shores  which  afford  it  a  subsistence,  and 
perches  in  the  neighboring  woods.  It>  notes,  probably  various, 
are  at  times  hoarse  and  guttural,  at  oilurs  weaker  and  higher. 
These  Crows  i)ass  most  of  their  time  ni'ar  rivers,  hovering  over 
the  stream  to  catch  up  ^\vm\  and  ])erhaps  living  fish,  or  other 
animal  matters  which  lloat  wiiliin  liuir  reach  ;  at  thesi-  they 
dive  with  considerabU'  celerity,  and  seizing  them  in  their  claws, 
convey  tiii'in  to  an  adjoining  tree,  and  devour  the  fruits  of 
their  predatory  indu.stry  at  leisure.     They  also  snatch  uj)  water- 


ii> 


J 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


m 

iL  1111.6 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


^ 


iV 


^ 


<> 


^ts% 


;\ 


<^ 


<^ 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


f  fl 


p' 

M 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


lizanls  in  the  same  manner,  and  feed  upon  small  crabs;  at 
times  they  are  seen  even  co.'itending  with  the  Oulls  for  their 
prey.  It  is  amusing  to  see  with  what  steady  watchfulness  they 
hover  over  the  water  in  search  of  their  precarious  food,  having, 
in  fact,  all  the  traits  of  the  (lull  ;  but  they  subsist  more  on 
accidental  supplies  than  by  any  regular  system  of  fishing.  On 
laud  they  have  sometimes  all  the  familiarity  of  the  Magpie, 
hopping  upon  tlie  backs  of  cattle,  in  whose  company  they  no 
doubt  occasionally  meet  with  a  supply  of  insects  when  other 
sources  fail.  Thev  are  also  regular  in  their  attendance  on  the 
fishermen  of  New  Jersey  for  the  purpose  of  gleaning  up  the 
refuse  of  the  fish.  They  are  less  shy  and  suspicious  than 
the  common  Crow,  and  showing  no  inclination  for  plundering 
the  cornfields,  are  rather  friends  than  enemies  to  the  f^irmer. 
They  appear  near  Philadelphia  from  the  middle  of  March  to 
the  beginning  of  June,  during  the  season  of  the  shad  and  herring 
fishery. 

The  habitat  now  accorded  to  this  species  is  '"the  Atlantic  and 
Gulf  States  north  to  Long  Island  and  west  to  Louisiana.''  It 
probably  occurs  occasionally  along  the  Connecticut  shore,  and  may 
straggle  into  .\hissacluisi  tls  ;  though  .Mr.  .Allen  has  omitted  it  from 
his  list. 

(;)n  the  Pacific  coast  it  is  replaced  by  C.  caurinus. 

All  Crows  are  more  or  less  fish-eaters,  and  in  some  localities  fish 
forms  their  staple  diet.  On  the  shores  of  Cape  Breton,  near  the 
coal  districts,  the  fish-eating  Crows  are  separated  by  the  natives 
from  the  common  sort.  It  is  saiil  that  the  flight  and  voice  of  these 
birds  can  be  readily  distinsiuished.  Some  inincrs  working  at 
Lepreaux.  in  Xew  Prunswick,  who  were  familiar  with  the  fish- 
eating  Cr.)\\s  of  Cape  Preton,  drew  my  attention  to  a  flock  of 
aiiixarentl)  .^mall  and  peculiar-voiced  Crows  gleaning  along  the 
shores  :  but  though  easily  trapped  by  a  fish  bait,  they  proved  to 
be  nothin<r  more  than  rather  small  common  Crows. 


Note.  —  The  American-  M.vgpie  {Pica  pica  /ludsonicd)  is  a 
Western  and  Northwestern  bird,  and  occurs  as  a  straggler  only 
east  of  the  Mississippi.  It  has  been  taken  in  Michigan,  northern. 
Illinois,  and  western  Ontario  ;  also  at  Chambly.  near  Montreal. 


i 


:>#-T 


lbs;  at 
)r  their 
;ss  they 
having, 
11  (J re  on 
g.     On 
Magpie% 
they  no 
n  other 
J  on  the 
;  up  the 
lus   than 
nitlering 
farmer, 
larch  to 
I  herring 

antic  and 

ma."'      It 

and  may 

d  it  from 


ihtics  fish 
near  the 
c  natives 
of  tliese 
rkini;;  at 
the  fish- 
flock  of 
long  the 
iroved  to 


\'ca)  is  a 
^ler  only 
Inorthem 
treal. 


T=?^^ 


•T  J  .  '  **^!/ ;^;*^  »v>--i  -tf.*,-    ~    ^=55^     _-=  - 


BLUE    JAY. 

CvAXDcrnA  crisiata. 

CllAR.  Above,  purplish  blue;  below,  pale  piiriiHsh  srav,  lighter  on 
throat  and  tail-coverts  ;  wings  and  tail  bright  blue  barred  with  black  ;  wing- 
coverts,  secondaries,  and  most  of  tail-feathers  brnadlv  tipi^ed  with  white. 
Head  conspicuously  crested  ;  tail  wcdgc->hai)ed.   Length  ii  to  12^  inches. 

N'cst.  In  a  small  conifer,  about  20  feet  from  the  ground,  situated  in 
deep  forest  or  near  a  settlement ;  roughly  but  firmly  constructed  of  twigs 
and  roots,  and  lined  with  tine  roots. 

E'^c^s.  4-5;  pale  olive  or  buff,  spotted  with  yellowish  brown;  i  10 
X  0,85. 

This  elegant  and  common  species  is  met  with  in  the  interior, 
from  the  remote  northwestern  regions  near  Peace  River,  in  the 
54th  to  the  56th  degree,  I.ake  Winnipeg  in  the  49th  degree, 
the  eastern  steppes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  southwest- 
ward  to  the  banks  of  the  Arkansas  ;  also  along  the  Atlantic 
regions  from  the  confines  of  Xewfinmilland  to  the  peninsula  of 
Florida  and  the  shores  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 


H 


1 1 


134 


SIXGINC;    IIIRDS. 


«ii 


lit 


Ill'  i 


The  Blue  Jay  is  a  constant  inhabitant  both  of  the  wooded 
wilderness  and  the  vicinity  of  the  settled  farm,  though  more 
faniiHar  at  the  approach  of  winter  and  early  in  spring  than  at 
any  other  season.  These  wanderings  or  limited  migrations  are 
induced  by  necessity  alone  ;  his  hoards  of  grain,  nuts,  and 
acorns  either  have  failed  or  are  forgotten  :  for,  like  other 
misers,  he  is  more  assiduous  to  amass  than  to  expend  or  en- 
joy his  stores,  and  the  fruits  of  his  labors  very  frequently  either 
devolve  to  the  rats  or  squirrels,  or  accidentally  assist  in  the 
replanting  of  the  forest.  His  visits  at  this  time  are  not  un- 
fre(|nent  in  the  garden  and  orchard,  and  his  usual  petulant 
address  of  (//'dr,  Jay.  Jay,  and  other  harsh  and  trumpeting 
articulations,  soon  make  his  retreat  known  to  all  in  his  neigh- 
borhood. So  habitual  is  this  sentinel  cry  of  alarm,  and  so  ex- 
pressive, that  all  the  birds  within  call,  as  well  as  other  wild 
animals,  are  instantly  on  the  alert,  so  that  the  fowler  and 
hunter  become  generally  disappointed  of  their  game  by  this 
his  garrulous  and  noisy  propensity ;  he  is  therefore,  for  his 
petulance,  frequently  killed  without  pity  or  profit,  as  his  tlesh, 
thougli  eaten,  has  but  little  to  recommend  it.  His  more  com- 
plaisant notes,  when  undisturbed,  though  guttural  and  echoing, 
are  by  no  means  uni)leasant,  and  fall  in  harmoniously  with  the 
cadence  of  the  feathered  choristers  arountl  him,  so  as  to  form 
a  finishing  part  to  the  general  music  of  the  grove.  His  ac- 
cents of  blandishment,  when  influenced  by  the  softer  passions, 
are  low  and  musical,  so  as  to  be  scarcely  heard  beyond  the 
thick  branches  where  he  sits  concealed  ;  but  as  soon  as  dis- 
covered he  bursts  out  into  notes  of  rage  and  reproach,  accom- 
panying his  voice  by  jerks  and  actions  of  temerity  and  defiance. 
Tndeed  the  Jay  of  Europe,  with  whom  our  beau  agrees  entirely 
in  habits,  is  so  irascible  and  violent  in  '-""s  movements  as  some- 
times to  strangle  himself  in  the  narrow  fork  of  a  branch  from 
which  he  has  been  found  suspended.  Like  the  European  spe- 
cies, he  also  exhibits  a  great  antipathy  to  the  Owl,  and  by  his 
loud  and  savage  vociferation  soon  brings  together  a  noisy  troop 
of  all  the  busy  birds  in  the  neighborhood.  To  chis  garrulous 
attack  the  night  wanderer  has  no  reply  but  a  threatening  stare 


BLUE  JAV. 


135 


[is  ac- 
issions, 
bid  the 
las  dis- 
bccom- 
;  fiance, 
nitirely 
some- 
[h  from 
111  spe- 
by  his 
ly  troop 
Irrulous 
Ig  stare 


of  indifiference ;  and  as  soon  as  opportunity  offers,  he  quietly 
slips  from  his  slandering  company.  Advantage  in  some  coun- 
tries is  taken  of  this  dislike  for  the  purpose  of  catching  birds  ; 
thus  the  Owl,  being  let  out  of  a  box,  sometimes  makes  a  hoot, 
which  instantly  assembles  a  motley  group,  who  are  then  caught 
by  liming  the  neighboring  twigs  on  which  they  perch.  In  this 
gossip  the  Jay  and  Crow  are  always  sure  to  take  j)art  if  within 
sight  or  hearing  of  the  ra//,  and  are  thus  caught  or  destroyed 
at  will.  The  common  Jay  is  even  fond  of  imitating  the  harsh 
voice  of  the  Owl  and  the  noisy  Kestrel.  1  have  also  heard  the 
Blue  Jay  mock  with  a  taunting  accent  the  Xv'  co,  /•<■  00,  or  quail- 
ing, of  the  Red-shouldered  Hawk.  Wilson  likewise  heard  him 
take  singular  satisfliction  in  teasing  and  mocking  the  little 
American  Sparrow  Hawk,  and  imposing  upon  him  by  the  pre- 
tended i)laints  of  a  wounded  bird  ;  in  which  frolic  several  would 
appear  to  join,  until  their  sport  sometimes  ended  in  sudden 
consternation,  by  the  Hawk,  justly  enough,  pouncing  on  one  of 
them  as  his  legitimate  and  devoted  prey. 

His  talent  for  mimicry  when  domesticated  is  likewise  so  far 
capable  of  improvement  as  to  enable  him  to  imitate  human 
speech,  articulating  words  with  some  distinctness ;  and  on 
hearing  voices,  like  a  Parrot,  he  would  endeavor  to  contribute 
his  important  share  to  the  tumult.  Bewick  remarks  of  the 
common  Jay  of  Europe  that  he  heard  one  so  exactly  counter- 
feit the  actio.  :)f  a  saw  that,  though  on  a  Sunday,  he  could 
scarcely  be  persuaded  but  that  some  carpenter  was  at  work. 
Another,  unfortunately,  rendered  himself  a  serious  nuisance  by 
learning  to  houuvl  a  cur  dog  upon  the  domestic  cattle,  whistling 
and  calling  him  by  name,  so  that  at  length  a  serious  accident 
occurring  in  consequence,  the  poor  Jay  was  proscribed. 

One  which  I  have  seen  in  a  state  of  domestication  behaved 
with  all  the  quietness  and  modest  humility  of  Wilson's  caged 
bird  with  a  petulant  companion.  He  seldom  used  his  voice, 
came  in  to  lodge  in  the  house  at.  night  in  any  comer  where  he 
was  little  observed,  but  unfortunately  perished  by  an  accident 
before  the  completion  of  his  education. 

The  favorite  food  of  this  species  is  chestnuts,  acorns,  and 


'I 


1^ 


.  n 


m 


;i' 


■  I    f 


\  i 


I 


136 


SL\GL\(]    niKDS. 


Indian  corn  or  maize,  the  latter  of  which  he  breaks  before 
swallowinLf.  He  also  feeds  occasionally  on  the  larger  insects 
and  caterpillars,  as  well  as  orchard  fruits,  particularly  cherries, 
and  does  not  even  refuse  the  humble  fare  of  jjotatoes.  In 
times  of  scarcity  he  falls  upon  carrion,  and  has  been  knou  n  to 
\enture  into  the  barn,  through  accidental  openings  ;  when,  as 
if  sensible  of  the  danger  of  purloining,  he  is  active  and  siKiit, 
and  if  surprised,  postponing  his  garrulity,  he  retreats  with 
noiseless  precijjitation  and  with  all  the  cowardice  of  a  tliief. 
The  wor>t  trait  of  his  appetite,  however,  is  his  relish  for  the 
eggs  of  utiier  birds,  in  quest  of  vdiich  he  may  frequently  be 
seen  prowling  ;  and  with  a  savage  cruelty  he  sometimes  also 
devours  the  callow  young,  spreading  the  i)laint  of  sorrow  and 
alarm  wherever  he  Hits.  The  whole  neighboring  coip.munity 
of  little  birds,  assembled  at  the  cry  of  distress,  sometimes,  how- 
ever, succeed  m  driving  off  the  ruthless  plunderer,  who,  not 
always  content  with  the  young,  has  been  seen  to  attack  the  old, 
though  with  dubious  success  ;  but  to  the  gallant  and  (juarrel- 
some  King  Ilird  he  submits  like  a  cowartl,  and  dri\en  to  seek 
shelter,  even  on  the  ground,  from  the  repeated  blows  of  his 
antagonist,  sneaks  off  well  contented  to  save  his  life. 

Although  a  few  of  these  birds  are  seen  with  us  nearly  through 
the  winter,  numbers,  no  doubt,  make  predatory  excursions  to 
milder  regions,  so  that  they  appear  somewhat  abundant  at  this 
season  in  the  Southern  States  ;  yet  they  are  known  to  rear  their 
young  from  Canada  to  South  Carolina,  so  that  their  migrations 
may  be  nothing  more  than  journeys  from  the  highlands 
towards  the  warmer  and  more  productive  sea-coast,  or  eastern 
frontier. 

East  of  the  Mississippi  the  Blue  Jay  has  been  rarely  seen  nortli 
of  the  50th  parallel. 

XoTE.  —  A  smaller  race,  which  differs  also  from  true  cristata  in 
having  less  white  on  the  tips  of  the  secondaries  and  tail-feathers, 
has  been  named  the  Flokioa  Blue  Jay  {C.  cristata  Jlorincola). 
It  is  found  in  Florida  and  along  tin.'  (ailf  coast. 


I 

i 


i 


FLORIDA  JAV 


l^ 


:>/ 


north 


\/a/a  ill 
lathers, 


i 


FLORIDA    JAV. 

ApHKLOCOMA    FLORII  )AN'.\. 

Char.  Above,  dull  azure  blue;  back  with  patch  of  brownish  gray ; 
throat  and  chest  grayish  white  strcalvcd  with  ashy:  belly,  brownish  gray. 
No  crest  i  tail  longer  than  wing.     Length  lo'^  to  12^2  inches. 

iVf'.f/.  In  low  tree  or  thicket  of  bushes  ;  made  of  twigs  and  roots,  lined 
with  fine  roots  and  moss. 

AVc-r-  4-5;  P^lc  green  or  bkiisli  gray,  spotted  with  rufous  and  black; 
i.:o  X  oSo. 

'I'his  elegant  species  is,  as  far  as  yet  knuwn,  almost  wholly 
confined  to  the  interior  of  the  mild  ]KMiinsula  of  luist  Florida. 
In  a  tonr  through  the  lower  parts  of  (ieorgia  and  West  FIori<la, 
])rc)tr;u:teil  to  the  middle  of  March,  I  saw  none  of  these  birls; 
and  at  the  approach  of  winter  the\'  c\en  retire  to  the  south 
of  St.  Augnsiiiie,  as  Mr.  Ord  did  not  meet  with  them  until 
about  the  middle  of  February  ;  from  that  tinu-,  however,  they 
were  seen  d'-'y,  Hying  low  and  hopping  through  the  luxuriant 
thickets,  or  peei)ing  from  the  dark  branches  of  the  live-oaks 
which  adorn  the  outlet  of  the  St.  Juan.  These  birds  appear 
to  possess  the  u-^ual  propensities  of  their  tribe,  being  quarrel- 
some, active,  and  garrulous.  Their  voice  is  less  harsh  than 
that  of  the  common  IJlue  Jay,  and  they  have  a  variety  of  notes, 
some  of  which,  probably  imitations,  are  said  to  have  a  resem- 
blance to  the  song  of  the  Thrush  and  the  call  of  the  common 
Jay. 

Only  a  single  brood  is  raised  in  the  season.  Its  food  is  ven* 
similar  to  that  of  the  other  species  ;  namely,  berries,  fruts, 
mast,  and  insects.  It  likewise  collects  snails  from  the  marshy 
grounds,  feeds  largely  on  the  seeds  of  the  sword-palmetto  : 
and,  in  the  manner  of  the  Titmouse,  it  secures  its  food  be- 
tween its  feet,  and  breaks  it  into  pieces  previous  to  swalhjwing. 
Like  other  species  of  the  genus,  it  destroys  the  eggs  and  young 
of  small  birds,  despatching  the  latter  by  repeated  blows  on  the 
head.  It  is  also  easily  reconciled  to  the  cage,  and  feeds  on 
fresh  or  dried  fruits  and  various  kinds  of  nuts.  Its  attempts  at 
mimicry  in  this  state  are  very  imperfect. 


i; 


m 


^1 


I 


CANADA   JAY. 

WHISKEY   JACK.     MOOSE    BIRD. 

Perisoreus  canadensis. 

Char.  Above,  a?hy  gray;  head  and  nape  smoky  black;  forehead 
and  lower  par:-  whitish  gray ;  breast  brownish  gray ;  wings  and  tail 
dark  ashv.  ti;>ped  obscurely  with  white.  Young:  uniform  dull  smoky 
black,  paler  beneath.     Length,   ii   to   12  inches. 

N'est.  In  a  coniferous  tree;  a  bulky  hut  compact  structure  of  cried 
twigs,  shreds  of  bark  and  moss  thickly  lined  with  feathers. 

i?:,:;,^  4-5;  •-'f  "gbt  gray  01  huffish,  spotted  with  dark  gray,  lilac  gray, 
and  pale  brown  ;  1.15  X  o.So. 

Th:s  species,  with  the  intrusive  habits  and  plain  plumage  of 
the  Pie,  is  almost  confined  to  the  northern  regions  of  America, 
being  rnet  with  around  Hudson's  Bay,  but  becoming  rare  near 
the  St,  Lawrence,  and  in  winter  only  straggling  along  the  coast 
as  far  as  Nova  Scotia,  Westward,  occasionally  driven  by  the 
severity  of  the  weather  and  failure  of  food,  they  make  their 
appearance  in  small  parties  in  the  interior  of  Maine  and  north- 


CANADA  JAV. 


«39 


lenca, 

|e  near 

coast 

)y  the 

their 
lorth- 


em  parts  of  Vermont,  where,  adording  to  Amlubon,  they  are 
freciuently  known  to  breed.  'I'hey  also  descend  into  the  State 
of  N'  >•'  York  as  far  as  the  town  of  Hudson  and  the  banks  of 
the  Moh  '\k.  In  the  month  of  May  1  observed  a  wandering 
bro(3d  of  these  birds,  old  and  young,  on  the  shady  borders 
of  the  Wahlamet,  in  the  (Oregon  territory,  where  thev  had 
probably  been  bred.  'I'hey  descended  to  the  ground  near  a 
spring  in  (juest  of  insects  and  small  shells. 

According  to  Mr.  Mulchins,  like  the  I'ie,  when  near  the 
habitations  and  tents  of  the  inhabitants  and  natives,  it  is  given 
to  pilfering  everything  within  reach,  and  is  sometimes  so  bold 
as  to  venture  into  the  tents  and  snatch  tiu-  meat  from  the 
dishes  even,  whether  fresli  or  salt.  It  has  also  the  mischievous 
sagacity  cf  watchi.-g  the  hunters  set  their  traps  for  the  Martin, 
from  which  it  i)urloins  the  bait.  Its  ajfijctite,  like  that  of  the 
Crow,  appears  omnivorous.  It  fee  Is  on  worms,  various  insects, 
and  their  lar\-fe,  and  on  flesh  of  different  kinds  ;  ]ay->  up  stores 
of  berries  in  hollow  trees-  for  winter  :  and  at  times,  with  the 
reindeer,  is  driven  to  the  necessity  of  fee<ling  on  lichens. 
The  severe  winters  of  the  wilds  it  inhabits,  urges  it  to  seek 
support  in  the  vicinity  of  habitations.  Like  the  common  Jay, 
at  this  season  it  leaves  the  woods  to  make  excursions  after 
food,  trying  every  means  for  subsistence  ;  and  tained  by  hun- 
ger, it  seeks  boklly  the  society  of  men  and  animals.  These 
birds  are  such  praters  as  to  be  consitlered  Mocking  IJirds,  and 
are  superstitiously  dreaded  by  the  aborigines.  They  com- 
monly fly  in  pairs  or  rove  in  small  families,  are  no  way  difticult 
to  approach,  and  keep  up  a  kind  of  friendly  chattering,  some- 
times repeating  their  notes  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  at  a  time, 
imm'  diately  before  snow  or  falling  weather.  When  caught, 
they  seldom  long  survive,  though  they  never  neglect  their  food. 
Like  most  of  their  genus,  they  breed  early  in  the  spring,  build- 
ing their  nests,  which  are  formed  of  twigs  and  grass  in  the  pine- 
trees.  They  lay  4  to  6  light-grayish  eggs,  faintly  marked  with 
brown  spots.  The  young  brood,  at  first,  are  perfect  Crows,  or 
nearly  quite  black,  and  continue  so  for  some  time. 

According  to  Richardson,  this  inelegant   but  familiar  bird 


It 


M 

^ii 


i 

1  t 

' 

1 

f 

i 

I 

1 

i 

■^ 

-las 


rsstss 


140 


SIN(;iNG    ISIRDS. 


t  t 


inhabits  all  the  \vood\  distrirts  of  the  remote  fur  countries  from 
the  65th  parallel  to  Ciinada,  and  now  and  then  in  severe  win- 
ters extends  his  desultory  niii^rations  within  the  northern  limits 
of  the  United  States.  Scarcely  has  the  winter  traveller  in  those 
cold  regions  chosen  a  suitable  place  of  repose  in  the  forest, 
cleare<l  away  the  snow,  lighted  his  fire,  and  i)repared  his  tent, 
when  Whiskey  Jack  insidiously  pays  him  a  visit,  and  boldly 
rlescends  into  the  social  circle  to  pick  up  any  cnniibs  of  fro/en 
fish  or  morsels  of  dry  meat  that  may  have  escaped  the  mouths 
of  the  wear)'  and  hungry  sledge-dogs.  'I'his  ( onfidence  is  almost 
the  only  recommendation  of  our  familiar  intruiler.  There  is 
nothing  pleasing  in  his  voice,  ])lumage.  or  attitudes.  l!ut  this 
rlark,  sinister  dwarf  of  the  North  is  now  the  only  inhabitant  of 
those  silent  and  trackless  forests,  and  trusting  from  necessit\  in 
the  forbearance  of  man,  he  fearlessly  approaches,  and  craves 
his  alloweil  ])ittance  from  llie  wan^lering  stranger  who  visits  his 
dreary  domain.  At  the  fur  posts  and  fishing  stations  he  is  also 
a  stea(iy  attendant,  becoming  so  tamed  in  the  winter  by  the 
terrible  inclemency  of  the  climate  as  to  eat  tamely  from  the 
ofiferetl  hand  ;  >et  at  the  same  time,  wild  and  inilomitable 
under  this  garb  of  humility,  he  seldom  sur^•ives  long  in  confine- 
ment, and  pines  away  with  the  loss  of  his  accustomed  liberty. 
He  hops  with  activity  from  branch  to  branch,  but  when  at  rest, 
sits  with  his  head  drawn  in,  and  with  his  plumage  loose.  'I'lie 
voice  of  this  inelegant  bird  is  plaintive  and  squeaking,  though 
he  occasionally  makes  a  low  chattering,  especially  when  his  food 
appears  in  view.  Like  our  Blue  Jay,  he  has  the  habit  of  hoard- 
ing berries,  morsels  of  meat,  etc.,  in  the  hollows  of  trees  or 
beneath  their  bark.  These  magazines  prove  useful  in  winter, 
and  enable  him  to  rear  his  hardy  brood  even  before  the  disap- 
pearance of  the  snow  from  the  ground,  and  long  before  any 
other  bird  indigenous  to  those  climates.  The  nest  is  concealed 
with  such  care  that  but  few  of  the  natives  have  seen  it. 


Whiskey  Jack  has  evidently  moved  somewhat  southward  since 
Xuttall  made  his  observations,  for  the  species  is  now  a  fairly  com- 
mon resident  of  the  Maritime  Provinces  of  Canada,  as  well  as  of 
the  northern  portions  of  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  New 


I  { 


LANAhA    I  AY. 


141 


N'ork.  and  Michiijaii.  Near  Ottawa,  aiul  in  the  Mu>koka  ili>trict 
of  Ontario,  it  oci  uis  regularly.  t!n»u;;!i  it  is  not  al«iin<l.int.  hi  '  »l- 
toln  r.  iSSij,  oiiL-  example  was  taken  at  .\rlini;lnii  llii^ht>.  ne.ir 
lioston.  and  several  li.ivc  been  reported  irum  oilier  localities  iu 
MassacluiseUs. 

I  examined  a  nest  taken  near  ludniundston.  New  Urunswick.  on 
April  7,  1.SS3.  at  which  date  tin-  tuuiitry  there  was  covered  with 
snow  and  iee.  I'he  nest  was  placed  on  a  small  tree  near  the  main 
hii;hway.  and  not  many  humlred  yards  from  the  railro.id  station. 
As  the  cold  in  that  rej^ion  is  intense.  t!ie  temperature  often  hein^  at 
—  30^  to — 40°  F.  in  midwinter,  it  is  surprising  tiiat  the  eijgs  are 
ever  hatched.  lUit  the  nest  is  made  very  warm,  and  the  birds  sit 
close,  and  when  one  parent  steps  otf  the  other  at  once  steps  on. 

liy  the  first  of  June  the  youn<jf  are  in  full  feather  and  takin-  care 
of  themselves. 

Nuttall's  opinion  that  tliLSe  birds  apj)ear  bold  and  familiar  onlv 
wlieii  pressed  by  the  hunger  of  winter,  has  not  found  supDort  in 
my  experience.  Fre(|nently  when  camping  in  the  Xew  llrunswick 
woods  during  the  summer  \aiation  i  have  seen  numbers  of  tiiese 
birds  gather  about  ay  camp-tire  within  a  few  minutes  after  it  has 
been  lighted  :  and  they  did  not  hesitate  to  pick  up  a  piece  of  meat 
thrown  toward  them.  .Mr.  Thompson  reports  a  similar  experience 
in  .Manitoba,  lie  describes  these  birds  coming  to  his  camp-tire.side 
a;ul  helping  tlums-lves  to  scraps  lying  but  a  fev  feet  frem  where 
he  was  sitting.  .Several  other  observers,  however,  have  recorded 
a  similar  opinion  to  .Xuttall's:  and  it  m.ty  be  tliat  the  fearless  birds 
are  restricted  to  localities  where  they  are  not  disturbed. 

The  Canadian  lumters  ami  lumljermen  liave  a  superstitious 
respect  for  these  birds,  fearing  the  ill-luck  that  is  said  to  result 
from  killing"  one,  and  Whiskey  Jack  may  have  discovered  that. 


Note.  —  The  LAr.u.vnoK  Jav  {P.  ntnudcnsis  tiij^n'rdfii/us) 
differs  from  true  cnniu/ciisis  in  being  darker  in  i^eneral  coloraiit)n. 
It  is  restricted  to  the  coast  region  of  Labrador. 


II 


ViX 


ji»V  -*«>""«*<'W, 


'lit 


i 


TiFivA)  'rrrMOusE. 

I'ARLS    IJICOLOK. 

Char.  Above,  bluish  ash;  beneath,  dull  white;  flanks  tinged  with 
yellowish  brown ;  forehead  black  ;  head  conspicuously  crested.  Length 
5^4  to  6/2  inches. 

-\'<  jA  In  a  cavity  of  a  tree  or  stump ;  composed  of  leaves,  moss,  or 
woollen  material,  lined  with  feathers, 

£^\'s.  5-S  ,  white  or  pale  cream,  spotted  with  reddish  brown;  0.75 
X  0.55. 

From  the  geographic  limits  of  this  species,  as  it  occurs  to 
me.  I  am  inchned  to  believe  that  the  birtl  seen  in  (Ireenlantl 
may  be  dififerent  from  the  present,  as  it  scarcely  a])pears  to 
exist  north  beyond  the  States  of  P'^nnsylvania  or  New  York. 
They  are  seldom,  if  ever,  seen  or  heard  in  this  part  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  instead  of  being  more  abundant  to  the  north,  as 
believed  by  Wilson,  they  are  probably  not  known  there  at  all. 
In  the  Southern  States,  at  least  in  winter  and  spring,  they  are 
very  common,  and  present  all  the  usual  habits  and  notes  of  the 
genus.  The  numbers  which  I  saw  in  the  Southern  States  from 
Tanuan'  to  March  would  seem  to  indicate  a  migratorv  habit  ; 
but  whether  they  hatl  arrived  from  the  Northeast,  or  from  the 
great  forests  of  the  West,  could  not  be  conjectured. 

The  Pt'/o,  as  I  may  call  this  bird  from  one  of  his  character- 
istic notes,  and  the  Carolina  A\'ren,  were  my  constant  and 
amusing  companions  during  the  winter  as  I  passed  through  the 
drearv'  solitudes  of  the  Southern  States.  The  sprightliness, 
caprice,  and  varied  musical  talent  of  this  species  are  quite 
interesting,  and  more  peculiarly  so  when  nearly  all  the  other 
vocal   tenants  of  the   forest  are  either  absent   or  silent.     To 


trom 
labit  ; 
n  ihe 

Icter- 

and 

h  the 

Iness, 

]iiite 

)ther 

To 


1 


\ 


I 


TUFri:i)  riTMOusE. 


143 


hear  in  the  middle  of  January,  when  at  least  the  leafless  trees 
and  dark  cloudy  skies  remind  us  of  tiie  coldest  season,  the 
lively,  cheerini,',  varied  i)ii)e  of  this  active  and  hardy  bird,  is 
particularly  t^ratifying  ;  and  though  his  voice  011  paper  may  aj) 
pear  to  present  only  a  list  of  (|uaint  articulations,  yet  the  deli- 
cacy, energy,  pathos,  and  variety  of  his  simple  song,  like  many 
other  things  in  Nature,  are  far  beyond  the  fteble  power  of 
description;  and  if  in  these  rudi'  graphii-  outlines  of  the  inim- 
itable music  of  birds  1  am  able  to  draw  a  caricature  sufficient 
to  indicate  the  imlividual  pcrfornur,  I  shall  have  attained  all 
the  object  to  be  hoped  for  in  an  attemj)!  at  natural  ilelincation. 

'I'he  notes  of  the  Peto  generally  partake  of  the  high,  echo- 
ing, clear  tone  of  the  lialtimore  llird.  Among  his  more  extra- 
ordinary expressions  I  was  struck  with  the  call  of  '-whip-toni- 
kVly  kVly,  and  now  and  then  'ri'////  tiun  hilly,  with  occasionally 
some  variation  in  the  tone  and  expression,  which  was  \ery 
lively  and  agreeable.  The  middle  syllable  {torn)  was  j)ro- 
nounced  in  a  hollow  reverberating  tone.  In  a  few  minutes 
after  the  subject  and  its  variations  were  finished,  in  the  estima- 
tion of  the  musical  i)erformer,  he  suddenly  twisted  hnnself 
roimd  the  branch  on  which  he  had  sat,  with  a  variety  of  odd 
anil  fantastic  motions  ;  and  then,  in  a  lower,  hoarser,  harsh 
voice,  and  in  a  peevish  tone,  exactly  like  that  of  the  Jay  and 
the  Chickadee,  went  ilay- day-day-ddy ,  and  {luy-ddy-tlny-ilay- 
(Idif;  sometimes  this  loud  note  changed  into  one  which  be- 
came low  and  querulous.  On  some  of  these  occasions  he  also 
called  'fsliita  dce-dce.  The  jarring  call  would  then  change 
occasionally  into  kai-tcc-did  did-dif-did.  These  peevish  notes 
would  often  be  uttered  in  anger  at  being  approached  ;  and 
then  again  would  perhaps  be  answered  by  some  neighboring 
rival,  against  whom  they  appeared  levelled  in  taunt  and  ridi- 
cule, being  accompanied  by  extravagant  gestures. 

Later  in  the  season,  in  February,  when  in  the  lower  part  of 
Alabama  the  mild  influence  of  spring  began  already  to  be  felt, 
our  f^ivorite,  as  he  gayly  pursued  the  busy  tribe  of  insects,  now 
his  principal  food,  called,  as  he  vaulted  restlessly  from  branch 
to  branch,  in  an  echoing  rapid  voice,  at  short  intervals,  pefo- 


tl 


ill 


} 


Ifl: 
llf 


)     i 


l!i; '  ' 


I    i 


144 


SINGING    BIRDS. 


pcto-pefo-pcio.  This  tender  call  of  recognition  was  at  length, 
answered,  and  continued  at  inter\-als  for  a  minute  or  two ;  they 
then  changed  their  quick  call  into  a  ^\o\\cx  pv/o  pefo  pefo  ;  and 
now  the  natural  note  passed  into  the  plaintive  key,  sounding 
like  (jiir-ah  (jiic-ali ;  then  in  the  same  breath  a  jarring  note  like 
that  of  the  Catbird,  and  in  part  like  the  sound  made  by  put- 
ting the  lower  li])  to  the  upper  teeth,  and  calling  'A//'  rd/i,  '/s/i' 
7'ah.  After  this  the  call  of  ktrn-kt-ri-y-ki-rry-kcrfv  struck  uj) 
with  an  echoing  sound,  heightened  l)y  the  hollow  bank  of  the 
river  whence  it  proceeded.  At  length,  more  delicately  than  at 
first,  in  an  under  tone,  you  hear  anew,  and  in  a  tender  accent, 
pcto  pcto  peto.  In  the  caprice  and  humor  of  our  performer, 
tied  by  no  rules  but  those  of  momentary  feeling,  the  expression 
will  perhaps  change  into  a  slow  and  i\\\\  pn-f-pect-a-pcct-a-peef, 
then  a  low  and  very  rapid  ki:r-kci--ker-kcr-kcr-kcrry,  sometimes 
so  quick  as  almost  to  resemble  the  rattle  of  a  watchman.  At 
another  time  his  morning  song  commences  like  the  gentle 
whispers  of  an  aerial  spirit,  and  then  becoming  high  and  clear 
like  the  voice  of  the  nightingale,  he  cries  kccva  kcaui  kcrva 
kc-'va  ;  but  soon  filling  into  the  querulous,  the  day-day-day-Jay- 
diix-dait  of  the  Chickadee  terminates  his  performance  Imita- 
tive, as  well  as  inventive,  I  have  heard  the  Peto  also  sing 
something  like  the  lively  chatter  of  the  Swallow,  leta-lcta-lcta- 
ktalif,  and  then  vary  into  peto-peto-peto-peto-pcto  extremely 
quick.  Unlike  the  warblers,  our  cheerful  Peto  has  no  trill,  or 
any  other  notes  than  tliese  simple,  playful,  or  pathetic  calls ; 
yet  the  compass  of  voice  and  the  tone  in  which  they  are 
uttered,  their  capricious  variety  and  their  general  Q.{iiiQ^^  at  the 
season  of  the  year  when  they  are  heard,  are  quite  as  pleasing 
to  the  contemplative  observer  as  the  more  exquisite  notes  of 
the  summer  songsters  of  the  verdant  forest. 

The  sound  of  'whip-toiii-krlly,  which  I  heard  this  bird  utter, 
on  the  17th  of  January,  1830,  near  Barnwell,  in  South  Carolina, 
is  very  remarkable,  and  leads  me  to  suppose  that  the  species  is 
also  an  inhabitant  of  the  West  India  Islands,  where  Sloane 
attributes  this  note  to  the  Red-eyed  Flycatcher;  but  it  is  now 
known  to  be  the  note  of  a  tropical  species,  the  vireo  longiros- 


I 


I 


Ji 


TUFTED   TITMOL'SE. 


145 


/m,  and  which  our  bird  had  probably  •  2Jid  mimicked  in  its 
distant  chme. 

Ihc  Peto,  besides  insects,  Uke  the  Jay,  to  which  he  is  allied, 
chops  up  acorns,  cracks  mifs  and  hapl  amid  shelly  seeds  to  get 
at  their  contents,  holdin ,  them  mcamwrMe  in  his  feet.  He 
also  searches  and  pecks  decayed  trcc^rawl  ihe  ;  bark  with  ccmi- 
siderable  energy  and  industry  in  quc^rC  tof  lanae  ;  he  often  also 
enters  into  hollow  trunks,  prying  after  At:  s>ame  objects.  In 
these  holes  they  commonly  roost  in  wimirr,  and  occup\'  the 
same  secure  situations,  or  the  holes  of  ttSae  -small  Woodi)e(kcr, 
for  depositing  and  hatching  their  egg*,.  wSakh  takes  place  early 
in  April  or  in  May,  according  to  the  4ii&rrent  parts  of  the 
Union  they  happen  to  inhabit.  Somc:.KQes  they  dig  out  a 
cavity  for  themselves  with  much  labor,  and  always  line  the 
hollow  with  a  variety  of  warm  materiabr.  T"heir  eggs,  about  six 
to  eight,  are  white  with  a  few  small  specks  of  brownish  red  near 
the  larger  end.  The  whole  family,  young  ajod  old,  may  be  seen 
hunting  together  throughout  the  summer  aimd  winter,  and  keep- 
ing up  a  continued  mutual  chatter. 

According  to  the  observations  of  WeI^ii  it  soon  becomes 
familiar  in  confinement,  and  readily  nnakes  its  way  out  of  a 
wicker  cage  by  repeated  blows  at  the  itwigs.  It  may  be  fed 
on  hemp-seed,  cherry-stones,  apple-f  '  -  - -.  ?.iid  hickory  nuts, 
broken  and  thrown  in  to  it.  In  its  naciiraii  slate,  like  the  rest 
of  its  vicious  congeners,  it  sometimes  destmo^'S  small  birds  by 
blows  on  the  skull. 

This  species  belongs  to  the  Carolinian  fact^-al  area,  and  occurs 
regularly  only  from  about  the  40th  parallel!  *o>!Ulhward  :  north  of 
that  it  is  but  an  accidental  straggler.  A  ir-w  examples  have  been 
taken  in  New  England,  mostly  in  Connecu;ii.uBiL. 


\\\ 


utter, 

^rolina, 

jcies  is 

ISloane 

is  now 


voL.  1. —  10 


I 


|! 


^i 


146 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


ii! 


i|    % 


!/il 


1 ' 


CHICKADEE. 

PaRUS   AIRICAPILLUS. 

Char.  Above,  ashy  gray  ;  below,  grayish  white;  flanks  buffy ;  crown 
and  throat  black;  cheek  white.     Length  4J4  to  5^4  inches. 

A'ts/.  In  a  cavity  made  in  a  decayed  stump,  entering  from  the  top  or 
side  ;  composed  of  wool  or  inner  fur  of  small  mammals  firmly  and 
compactly  felted.  Sometimes  moss  and  hair  are  used,  and  a  lining  of 
feathers. 

jE^i;;i;s.     5-S ;  white  speckled  with  reddish  brown,  060  X  0.50. 

This  familiar,  hardy,  and  restless  little  bird  chiefly  inhabits 
the  Northern  and  Middle  States  as  well  as  Canada,  in  which  it 
is  even  resident  in  winter  around  Hudson's  Bay,  and  has  been 
met  with  at  62°  on  the  northwest  coast.  In  all  tiie  Northern 
and  Middle  States,  during  autumn  and  winter,  families  of  these 
birds  are  seen  c'lattering  and  roving  through  the  woods,  busily 
engaged  in  gleaning  their  multifarious  food,  along  with  Nut- 
hatches and  Creepers,  the  whole  forming  a  busy,  active,  and 
noisv  group,  whose  manners,  food,  and  habits  bring  them 
together  in  a  common  pursuit.  Their  diet  varies  with  the 
season  ;  for  besides  insects,  their  larvas  and  eggs,  of  which  they 
are  more  particularly  fond,  in  the  month  of  September  they 
leave  the  woods  and  assemble  fomiliarly  in  our  orchards  and 
gardens,  and  even  enter  the  thronging  cities  in  quest  of  that 
support  which  their  native  forests  now  deny  them.  Large 
seeds  of  many  kinds,  particularly  those  which  are  oily,  as  the 
sunflower  and  pine  and  spruce  kernels,  are  now  sought  after. 
These  seeds,  in  the  usual  manner  of  the  genus,  are  seized  in 
the  claws  and  held  against  the  branch  until  picked  open  by  tne 
bill  to  obtain  their  contents.  Fat  of  various  kinds  is  also 
greedily  eaten,  and  they  regularly  watch  the  retreat  of  the  hog- 
killers  in  the  country,  to  glean  up  the  fragments  of  meat  which 
adhere  to  the  places  where  the  carcases  have  been  suspended. 
At  times  they  feed  upon  the  wax  of  the  candle-berry  myrtle 
{Myrica  cerifcni)  ;  they  likewise  pick  up  crumbs  near  the  houses, 
and  search  the  weather-boards,  and   even   the   window-sills, 


1' 


CHICKADEE. 


147 


;  crown 

e  top  or 
nly   and 

ining  of 


nhabits 
,'hich  it 
as  been 
orthern 
of  these 
s.  busily 
[til  Nut- 
ive,  and 
g    them 
ith   the 
ich  they 
)er  they 
rds  and 
of  that 
Large 
as  the 
It  after, 
cizcd  in 
1  by  tae 
is  also 
he  hog- 
t  which 
lended. 
myrtle 
houses, 
iw-sills, 


U 


familiarly  for  their  Inrking  prey,  and  are  particularly  fond  of 
spiders  and  the  eggs  of  destructive  moths,  especially  those  of 
the  canker-worm,  which  they  greedily  destroy  in  all  its  stages 
of  existence.  It  is  said  that  they  sometimes  attack  their  own 
species  when  the  individual  is  sickl}',  and  aim  their  blows  at 
the  skull  with  a  view  to  eat  the  brain  ;  but  this  barbarity  I  have 
never  witnessed.  In  winter,  when  satisfied,  they  will  descend 
to  the  snow-bank  beneath  and  (juench  their  thirst  by  swallow- 
ing small  pieces  ;  in  this  way  their  various  and  frugal  meal  is 
always  easily  supi)lied  ;  and  hardy,  and  warmly  clad  in  light 
and  very  downy  feathers,  they  suffer  little  inconvenience  from 
the  inclemency  of  the  seasons.  Indeed  in  the  winter,  or  about 
the  close  of  October,  they  at  times  appear  so  enlivened  as 
already  to  show  their  amorous  attachment,  like  our  domestic 
cock,  the  male  approaching  his  mate  with  lluttering  and  vibra- 
ting wings  ;  and  in  the  spring  season,  the  males  have  obstinate 
engagements,  darting  after  each  other  witii  great  velocity  and 
anger.  Their  roost  is  in  the  hollows  of  decaved  trees,  where 
they  also  breed,  making  a  soft  nest  of  moss,  hair,  and  feathers, 
and  laying  from  six  to  twelve  eggs,  which  are  white,  with 
specks  of  brown-red.  They  begin  to  lay  about  the  middle  or 
close  of  April ;  and  though  they  commonly  make  use  of  natural 
or  deserted  holes  of  the  Woodpecker,  yet  at  times  they  are 
said  to  excavate  a  cavity  for  themselves  with  much  labor.  The 
first  brood  take  wing  about  the  7th  or  loth  of  June,  and  they 
have  sometimes  a  second  towards  the  end  of  July.  The  young, 
as  soon  as  fledged,  have  all  the  external  marks  of  the  adult,  — 
the  head  is  ec[ually  bhick,  and  they  chatter  antl  skip  about 
with  all  the  agility  and  self-possession  of  their  parents,  who 
appear  nevertheless  very  solicitous  for  their  safety.  From  this 
time  the  whole  family  continue  to  associate  together  through 
the  autumn  and  winter.  They  seem  to  move  by  concert  from 
tree  to  tree,  keeping  up  a  continued  'fshc-dc-dc-(fe-(/e,i\.n(\  '/s/ir- 
dc-(k-dc-dait,  preceded  by  a  shrill  whistle,  all  the  while  busily 
engaged  picking  round  the  buds  and  branches  hanging  from 
their  extremities  and  proceeding  often  in  reversed  postures, 
head  downwards,   like   so  many  tumblers,   prj'ing   into  every 


» ( 


1 48 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


fc  I 


fi:  .      I 


crevice  o(  the  bark,  and  searching  around  the  roots  and  in 
every  possible  retreat  of  their  insect  prey  or  its  larva;.  If  the 
object  chance  to  fall,  they  industriously  descend  to  the  ground 
and  glean  it  up  with  the  utmost  economy. 

On  seeing  a  cat  or  other  object  of  natural  antipathy,  the 
Chickadee,  like  the  peevish  Jay,  scolds  in  a  loud,  angry,  and 
hoarse  note,  like  '/s/w  ihii:^Ji  thiii^Ji  Jdii^h,  Among  the  other 
notes  of  this  sjK'cies  I  have  heard  a  call  like  tshc-iic-Jay,  tslic- 
dt'-Jay,  the  two  first  syllables  being  a  slender  chirp,  with  they'^H' 
strongly  i)ronouncetl.  AlniDst  the  only  note  of  this  bird  which 
may  be  called  a  song  is  one  which  is  frequently  heard  at  inter- 
vals in  the  depth  of  the  forest,  at  times  of  the  day  usually  when 
all  other  birds  are  silent.  \\'e  then  may  sometimes  hear  in  the 
midst  of  this  solitude  two  feeble,  drawling,  clearly  whistled,  and 
rather  melancholy  notes,  like  'fc-iicrry,  and  sometimes  'iv- 
pcrrit,  and  occasionally,  but  much  more  rarely,  in  the  same 
wiry,  wiiistling,  solemn  tone,  ^pelibc.  The  young,  in  winter,  also 
sometimes  drawl  out  these  contemplative  strains.  In  all  cases 
the  first  syllable  is  very  high  and  clear,  the  second  word  drops 
low  and  ends  like  a  feeble  plaint.  This  is  nearly  all  the  quaint 
song  ever  attempted  by  the  Chickadee,  and  is  perhaps  the  two 
notes  sounding  like  the  whetting  of  a  saw,  remarked  of  the 
Marsh  Titmouse  in  England  by  Mr.  ^Vhite,  in  his  "  Natural 
History  of  Selborne."  On  fine  days,  about  the  commencement 
of  October,  I  have  heard  the  Chickadee  sometimes  for  half  an 
/  hour  at  a  time  attempt  a  lively,  petulant  warble  very  different 
from  his  ordinary  notes.  On  these  occasions  he  appears  to 
flit  about,  still  hunting  for  his  prey,  but  almost  in  an  ecstasy  of 
delight  and  vigor.  IJut  after  a  while  the  usual  drawling  note 
again  occurs.  These  birds,  like  many  others,  are  very  subject 
to  the  attacks  of  vermin,  and  they  accumulate  in  great  numbers 
around  that  part  of  the  head  and  front  which  is  least  accessible 
to  their  feet. 

'llie  European  bird,  so  very  similar  to  ours,  is  partial  to 
marshy  situations.  Ours  has  no  such  predilection,  nor  do  the 
American  ones,  that  I  can  learn,  ever  lay  up  or  hide  any  store 
of  seeds  for  provision,  —  a  habit  reported  of  the  foreign  family. 


CHICKADEE. 


149 


nd  in 
If  the 
round 

y,  tilt-' 

y.  ami 

otlu-r 

■,  ^s/ic- 

which 
t  inter- 
y  when 
•  in  the 

-d,  and 
les   [\r- 
e  same 
ter.  also 
dl  ra^L's 
d  ilrops 
([uaint 
the  two 
of  the 
Natural 
icement 
half  an 
lifferent 
oears  to 
stasy  of 
ng  note 
subject 
umbers 
cessible 

irtial  to 
do  the 

by  store 
family. 


4 


In  this  fact,  with  so  many  others,  wc  have  an  additional  evi- 
dence of  affinity  between  the  Titmouse  and  (ay,  particularly 
that  short-billed  section  which  includes  the  Ganiilns  cana- 
densis and  G.  injai/sfiis.  l-^ven  the  blue  color,  so  common 
with  the  latter,  is  possessed  by  several  species  of  this  genus. 
Indeed,  from  their  aggregate  relation  and  omnivorous  habit 
we  see  no  better  place  of  arrangement  for  these  birds  than 
succinctly  after  the  Garruli,  or  Jays. 

Following  the  authority  of  Temminck  and  Montagu.  I  con- 
sidered this  bird  the  same  as  the  luiropeari  Marsh  Titmouse. 
I  have  since  seen  the  bird  of  Europe  in  its  native  country,  and 
have  good  reason  to  believe  it  wholly  different  from  our  lively 
and  flimiliar  C'hickadee.  Unlike  our  bird,  it  is  rather  shy,  seldom 
seen  but  in  pairs  or  solitary,  never  in  domestic  premises,  usu- 
ally and  almost  constantly  near  streams  or  watercourses,  on 
the  \villow3,  alders,  or  other  small  trees  impending  over 
streams,  and  utters  now  and  then  a  feeble  complaining  or 
querulous  call,  and  rarely  if  ever  the  chicka  dee-iicc.  It  also 
makes  a  noise  in  the  spring,  as  it  is  said,  like  the  whetting  of  a 
saw,  which  ours  never  does.  The  Chickadee  is  seldom  seen 
near  waters ;  often,  even  in  summer,  in  dry,  shady,  and  se- 
cluded woods ;  but  when  the  weather  becomes  cold,  and  as 
early  as  October,  roving  families,  pressed  by  necessity  and  the 
failure  of  their  ordinary  insect  fore,  now  begin  to  frequent 
orchards  and  gardens,  appearing  extremely  fomiliar,  hiuigry, 
indigent,  but  industrious,  prying  with  restless  anxiety  into  every 
cranny  of  the  bark  or  holes  in  decayed  trees  after  dormant  in- 
sects, spiders,  and  larv?e,  descending  with  the  strictest  economy 
to  the  ground  in  quest  of  every  stray  morsel  of  provision  which 
happens  to  fall  from  their  grasp.  Their  quaint  notes  and  jing- 
ling warble  are  heard  even  in  winter  on  fine  days  when  the 
weather  relaxes  in  its  severity  ;  and,  in  short,  instead  of  being 
the  river  hermit  of  its  European  analogue,  it  adds  bv  its 
presence,  indomitable  action  and  chatter,  an  air  of  cheerful- 
ness to  the  silent  and  dreary  winters  of  the  coldest  parts  of 
America. 


/ 


y 


, . = 1 


i 


Ill 


m 


150  SINGING   BIRDS. 

CAROLINA   CHICKADEE. 

PaRUS    CARULINKNSIS. 

Char.  Above,  ashy  gray  tinged  with  dull  brown  ;  head  and  throat 
black;  cheek  white;  beneath,  brownish  white;  flanks  buttish.  Length 
4){  to  4;'4  inches. 

.Visf.  In  a  cavity  of  decayed  stunij),  composed  of  grass  or  suieds  uf 
bark,  and  lined  with  feathers.  Sometimes  composed  entirely  of  fur  or 
fine  wool  felted  compactly. 

£    s,     5-S;  white  often  spotted  with  reddish  brown  ;  0.60  X  0.50. 

This  species,  detected  by  Mr.  Audubon,  is  a  constant  inhab- 
itant of  the  Southern  and  Middle  States  from  the  borders  of 
New  Jersey  to  East  Florida.  It  has  a  j^redilection  for  the 
borders  of  ponds,  marshes,  and  swamps,  and  less  gregarious 
than  the  preceding,  seldom  more  than  a  pair  or  family  are 
seen  together.  It  is  also  shy  and  retiring;  inhabiting  at  all 
times  a  mild  and  genial  clime,  it  never  seeks  out  domestic 
premises,  nor  even  the  waysides,  but,  like  the  l{!uropean  Marsh 
Titmouse,  it  remains  throughout  the  \  oar  in  the  tangled  woods 
and  swamps  which  gave  it  birth.  In  the  wilds  of  Oregon  late 
in  autumn  we  frequently  saw  small  roving  restless  Hocks  of 
these  birds  associated  often  with  the  Chestnut- Backed  species. 
At  such  times  both  parties  were  querulous  and  noisy  ;  but  the 
/s/ic  te  lie  t/c  is  comi)aratively  feeble,  uttered  in  a  slender,  wiry 
ton'^'.  At  such  times  intently  gleaning  for  insects,  they  show  very 
little  fear,  but  a  good  deal  of  sympathy  for  their  wounded  com- 
panions, remaining  round  them  and  scolding  in  a  petulant  and 
plaintive  tone.  At  the  api)roach  of  winter  those  in  the  Atlan- 
tic region  retire  farther  to  the  south,  and  on  the  Pacific  border 
they  are  to  be  seen  in  winter  in  the  woods  of  I'l^per  C;ilifornia  ; 
but  in  no  instance  did  we  see  them  approach  the  vicinity  of 
the  trading  posts  or  the  gardens. 

A  nest  of  this  species  discovered  by  Dr.  IJachman  was  in  a 
hollow  stump  about  four  feet  from  the  ground  ;  it  was  rather 
shallow,  composed  of  fine  wool,  cotton,  and  some  fibres  of 
plants,  the  whole  fitted  together  so  as  to  be  of  an  uniform 
thickness  throughout,  and  contained  pure  white  eggs. 


I 


11UUSUXIA.\    CHICKADEE. 


151 


IS  in  a 
1  rather 
[res  of 
lilform 


I 


HUDSOXIAN    CHICKADLE. 
Parus  hudsomcus. 

Char.  Ajovc,  pale  dull  brown,  darker  on  crown;  cheeks  white; 
below,  grayish  white ;    dunks    rusty ;    throat   brownish   black.      Length 

5  to  SH- 

At.<t.  In  an  excavation  in  a  decayed  stump,  usually  entering  from  the 
top.  On  the  bottom  of  the  cavity  is  placed  a  platform  of  dried  mo»^,  and 
on  this  another  of  felted  fur,  and  upon  this  latter  is  set  the  graceful  pouch- 
shaped  nest  of  firm  felt,  made  of  the  inner  fur  of  small  mammal.-. 

/i'^X^-  (>-io;  creamy  white  with  brown  spots  in  a  circle  around  the 
larger  end  ;  0.5S  X  0.5S. 

This  more  than  usually  hardy  species  continues  the  whole 
year  about  Severn  River,  braving  the  inclemency  of  the  winters, 
and  fretjuents  the  juniper-bushes  on  the  buds  of  which  it  feeds. 
In  winter,  like  the  common  species,  it  is  seen  roving  about 
in  small  tlocks,  busily  foraging  from  tree  to  tree.  It  is  said  to 
lay  five  eggs.  Mr.  Autlubon  met  with  it  on  the  coast  of  Lab- 
rad  .^r,  where  it  was  breeding,  about  the  middle  of  July.  He 
describes  the  nest  as  being  placed  at  the  height  of  not  more 
than  three  feet  from  the  ground,  in  the  hollow  of  a  decayed 
low  stump  scarcely  thicker  than  a  man's  leg.  the  whole  so 
rotten  that  it  crumbled  to  pieces  on  being  touched.  It  was 
shaped  like  a  purse,  eight  inches  in  depth,  two  in  diameter  in- 
side, its  sides  about  a  half  an  inch  thick.  It  was  composed  of 
the  finest  fur  of  different  quadrupeds,  so  thickly  matted  through- 
out that  it  looked  as  if  it  had  been  felted  by  the  hand  of  man. 
On  the  nest  being  assailed,  the  male  flew  at  the  intruder,  utter- 
ing an  angry  te-fi'-te-tcc. 

The  Hudson  Bay  Chickadee  is  fairly  common  in  the  Maritime 
Provinces,  though  more  abundant  in  winter  than  in  summer.  It 
has  been  found  breeding,  also,  in  the  northern  parts  of  Maine.  X-rw 
Hampshire,  Xew  "S'ork,  and  Michigan,  and  in  the  Muskoka  districts 
of  Ontario.  Mr.  Walter  Faxon  considers  it  a  rare  though  reirular 
migrant  to  the  eastern  part  of  Massachusetts,  but  thinks  it  occurs 
in  numbers  in  winter  amid  the  Berkshire  hills. 

A  few  examples  have  been  taken  in  Cunnccticul  and  in  Rhode 
Island. 


1 


m 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


m 


BOHEMIAN    WAXWING. 

A.MPELIS   (JARRULUS. 

Char.  Prevailing  color  cinnamon  brown  or  fawn  color,  darker  on 
front  head  and  checks.,  changing  to  ashy  on  rump;  chin  md  line  across 
forehead  and  ihrough  the  eyes,  rich  black;  wings  and  tail  slatv;  tail 
tipped  with  yellow  ;  primaries  tipped  with  white,  secondaries  with  apjjen- 
dages  like  red  sealing-wax.  Head  with  long  pointed  crest.  Length  j'/z 
toSf^  inches.  Easily  distinguished  from  the  Cedar  Bird  by  its  larger  .size 
and  darker  color. 

.W.A  In  a  tree,  a  bulky  structure  of  twigs  and  roots,  lined  with 
feathers. 

-^[^s,    3-5;  bluish  white  spotted  with  lilac  and  brown  ;  i.oo  X  0.70. 

The  Waxwing,  of  which  stragglers  are  occasionally  seen  in 
Nova  Scotia,  Massachusetts,  Long  Island,  and  the  vicinity  of 
Philadelphia,  first  obseived  in  America  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Athabasca  River,  near  the  region  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  in 
the  inonth  of  March,  is  of  common  occurrence  as  a  passenger 
throughout  the  colder  regions  of  the  whole  northern  hemi- 
sphere. Like  our  Cedar  Birds,  they  associate  in  numerous 
flocks,  pairing  only  for  the  breeding  season ;  after  which  the 
young  and  old  give  way  to  their  gregarious  habits,  and  collec- 
ting in  numerous  comoanies,  they  perform  extensive  journeys, 
and  are  extremely  remarkable  for  their  great  and  irregular 
wanderings.  The  circumstances  of  incubation  in  this  '".pecies 
are  wholly  unknown.  It  is  supposed  that  they  retire  to  the 
remote  regions  to  breed ;  yet  in  Norway  they  are  only  birds  of 
passage,  and  it  has  been  conjectured  that  they  pass  the  sum- 
mer in  the  elevated  table-land  of  Central  Asia,  Wherever  they 
dwell  at  this  season,  it  is  certain  that  in  spring  and  late  autumn 
they  visit  northern  Asia  or  Siberia  and  eastern  Europe  in  vast 
numbers,  but  are  elsewhere  only  uncertain  stragglers,  whose  ap- 
pearance, at  difiierent  times,  has  been  locked  upon  as  ominous 
of  some  disaster  by  the  credulous  and  ignorant. 

The  Waxen  Chatterers,  like  our  common  Cedar  Birds,  ap- 
pear destitute  of  song,  and  only  lisp  to  each  other  their  usual 
low,  reiterated  call  of  ze  zc  re,  which  becomes  more  audible 


BUlllCMI.W   WAXWING. 


153 


when  they  arc  disturbed  and  as  tliey  takj  to  wing.  They  are 
also  very  sociable  and  alTectiunate  to  their  whcjle  fraternity, 
and  sit  in  rows  often  on  tiie  same  branch,  when  not  employed 
in  collecting  their  food,  which  is  said  to  consist  of  juic\  fniits 
of  various  kinds,  particularly  grapes;  they  will  aUo  eat  juniper 
and  laurel  beiries,  as  well  as  aj^ples,  currants,  and  figs,  and  are 
often  seen  to  drink. 

Dr.  Richardson  informs  us  that  this  bird  appears  in  flocks  at 
Great  IJear  Lake  about  the  24th  uf  May,  when  they  feed  on 
the  berrie?  of  the  alpine  arbutus,  marsh  vaccinium,  and  other 
kinds  expos  1  again  to  the  surface  after  the  spring  thaw. 
Another  tlock  of  three  or  four  hundretl  indi\iiluals  was  >een  on 
the  banks  of  the  Saskatchewan,  at  Carlton  House,  early  in  the 
same  month.  In  their  usual  manner  they  all  settled  together 
on  one  or  two  trees,  and  remained  together  about  the  same 
place  for  an  huur  in  the  morning,  making  a  loud  twittering 
noise,  and  were  too  shy  to  be  approached  within  gunshot. 
Their  stay  at  most  did  not  exceed  a  few  days,  and  none  of  the 
Indians  knew  of  their  nests ;  though  the  doctor  had  reason  to 
believe  that  they  retired  in  the  breeding  season  to  the  broken 
and  desolate  mountain-limestone  districts  in  the  67th  or  O.Sth 
parallels,  where  they  find  means  to  feed  on  the  fniit  of  the 
common  juniper,  so  abundant  in  that  quarter.  Neither  Mr. 
Townsend  n^.  myself  observed  this  bird  either  in  the  Columbia 
River  district  or  on  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

The  Bohemian  is  still  a  rover  of  uncertain  and  irrej^ular  habits, 
occasionally  in  winter  appearing  along  the  nortliern  border  of  the 
United  States  and  through  the  settled  portions  of  Canada  in  large 
tiocks,  but  sor->  .-Hmes  absent  for  several  seasons.  The  statement 
has  been  ni  -cie  that  there  is  no  record  of  its  occurrence  in  New 
England  wltliin  the  past  fifteen  years.  Colonel  Goss  found  a  nest 
in  Labrador,  and  several  have  been  taken  in  the  Northwest. 


!> 


V   I 


if 


154 


SINGING    IJIRUS. 


in 

i 


CKDAR    WAXWING. 

CEDAR    UlKli      CllEKKV    BIRD. 

A.V     ,      .   CEDROkUM. 

Char.  Prevailing  color  cinnamon  brown  or  fawn  color,  chanpinp  to 
ashy  on  rump  and  yellowish  on  the  belly;  chin  and  line  across  forehead 
and  through  eyes,  rich  black  ;  wings  and  tail  slaty  ;  tail  tipped  with  yel- 
low:  secondaries  sometimes  with  red,  wax-like  appendages  Head  wiili 
long,  pointed  crest.     Length  Gyi  to  7^^  inches. 

.\W/.  In  a  tree  ;  large  and  loosely  made  of  twigs  and  grass,  lined  with 
g^a^s,  hair,  or  feather.s. 

Zf^/.    3-5  ;  bluish  white  spotted  with  lilac  and  brown ;  0.S5  X  0.60. 

This  common  native  wanderer,  wlucli  in  summer  extends  its 
migrations  to  the  remotest  unpeopled  regions  of  Canathi,  is 
also  found  throughout  the  American  continent  to  Mexico,  and 
parties  even  roam  to  the  tropical  forests  of  Cayenne.  In  all  this 
extensive  geographical  range,  where  great  elevation  or  latitude 
tempers  the  climate  so  as  to  be  favorable  to  the  production 
of  juicy  fruits,  the  Cedar  Uird  will  probably  be  found  either 
almost  \. -holly  to  reside,  or  to  pass  the  season  of  reproduction. 
Like  its  European  representative  (the  Waxen  Chatterer),  it  is 
capable  of  braving  a  considerable  degree  of  cold  ;  for  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  New  Jersey  some  of  these  birds  are  seen  through- 
out the  winter,  where,  as  well  as  in  the  early  part  of  the 
summer  and  fall,  they  are  killed  and  brought  to  market,  gen- 
erally fat.  and  much  esteemed  as  food,  .^ilky  softness  of 
plumage,  gentleness  of  disposition,  innocence  of  character, 
extreme  sociability,  and  an  innate,  inextinguishable  love  of 
freedom,  accompanied  by  a  constant  desire  of  wandering,  are 
characteristic  traits  in  the  physical  and  moral  portrait  of  the 
second  as  well  as  the  preceding  species  of  this  peculiar  and 
extraordinar}'  genus. 

Leaving  the  northern  part  of  the  continent,  situated  beyond 
the  40ih  degree,  at  the  approach  of  winter,  they  assemble 
in  companies  of  twenty  to  a  hundred,  and  wander  through  the 
Southern  States  and  Mexico  to  the  confines  of  the  equator,  in 


CEDAR   WAXNVING. 


>55 


all  of  which  countries  they  are  now  either  common  or  ubun- 
ihint.    As  observed  by  Ainiulx>n,  their  flight  is  easy,  continued, 
and  often  performed  at  a  considerable  height ;  and  ihcy  move 
in  tl<K:ks  or  companies,  making  several  turns  before  they  aligiii. 
As  the  mildness  of  spring  returns,  and  with  it  their  favoriti- 
food,  they  reappear  in  the  Northern  and  Mastem  States  about 
the  beginning  of  April,  before   the  rii)ening  of  their  favorite 
fruits,  the  cherries  and  mulberries.      lUit  at  this  season,  to  n- 
pay  the  ganlener  for  the  tithe  of  his  croj>,  their  natural  dm, 
they  fail  not  to  assist  in  ridtling  his  trees  of  more  deadly  ene- 
mies which  infest  them,  and  the  small  cater])illars,  beetles,  and 
various  insects  now  constitute  their  only  fo«id  ;  anil  for  hours 
at  a  time  they  may  be  seen  feeding  on  the  all-despoiling  canker- 
worms  which  infest  our  ap])le-trees  and  elms.     On  these  oc- 
casions,  silent    and    sedate,   after  plentifully  feeding,  they  sit 
dressing  their  feathers  in  near  contact  on  the  same  branth  to 
the  number  of  5  or  6  ;  and  as  the  season  of  selective  attach- 
ment ajjproaches,  they  may  be  observed  pluming  each  other, 
and  caressmg  with  the  most  gentle  fondness,  —  a  playfulness  in 
which,  however,  they  are   even   surpassed  by  the  contemned 
Raven,  to  which  soc  ial  and  friendly  family  our  Cedar    Uird, 
different  as  he  looks,  has  many  trait     jf  alliance.      lUit  these 
demonstrations  of  attachment,  which    11  a  more  vigorous  kind 
would  kindle  the  feud  of  jealousy,  a])]»arently  produce  in  this 
bird  scarcely  any  diminution  of  the  general  social  tie  ;  and  as 
they  are  gregarious  to  so  late  a  period  of  the  inviting  season  of 
incubation,  this  affection  has  been  supposed  to  be  indejjendent 
of  sexual  distinction.     This  friendly  trait  is  carried  so  far  that 
an  eye-witness  assures  me  he  has  seen  one  among  a  row  of 
these  birds  seated  upon  a  branch  dart  after  an  insect,  and  offer 
it  to  his  associate  when  caught,  who  very  disinterestedly  passed 
it  to  the  next,  and  each  delicately  declining  the  offer,  the  morsel 
has  proceeded  backwards  and  forwards  before  it  was  appro- 
priated.    Whatever  may  be  the  fact,  as  it  regards  this  peculiar 
sociability,  it  frequently  facilitates  the  means  of  their  destruc- 
tion with  the  thoughtless  and  rapacious  sportsman,  who,  be- 
cause  many  of  these  unfortunate  birds  can  be  killed  in  an 


! 


'  I 


156 


SLNGIMJ   lilKDS. 


^ 


•t 


instant,  sittinj,'  in  the  same-  rangt-,  thinks  the  exercise  of  the  gun 
must  be  creditetl  only  l)y  the  havoc  which  it  prochices  against 
a  friendly,  useful,  antl  inno(  ent  visitor. 

Towards  the  dose  of  May  or  beginning  of  June  the  Cherry 
Birds,  now  ])aired.  ccjmnicnce  forming  the  cradle  of  their  young  ; 
yet  still  so  sociable  are  they  that  several  nests  may  be  observed 
in  the  same  vicinity.  The  materials  and  trees  chosen  for  their 
labors  are  various,  as  well  as  the  general  markings  of  their  eggs. 
Two  nests,  in  the  Hotanic  (larclen  at  Cambridge,  were  formed 
in  small  hemlock-trees,  at  the  distance  of  16  or  iS  teet  from 
the  grcjund,  in  the  forks  of  the  main  br uiches.  (Jne  of  tliese 
was  composed  of  dry,  coarse  grass,  interwoven  roughly  with  a 
considerable  (juantity  of  dead  hemlock  sjirigs,  further  con- 
nected by  a  small  <iuantity  of  silk  weed  lint,  and  lined  with 
a  few  strips  of  thin  grajK'-vine  bark,  and  dry  leaves  of  the 
silver  fir.  In  the  second  nest  the  lining  was  merely  fine  root- 
fibres.  On  the  4th  of  June  this  nest  contained  2  eggs,  —  the 
whole  number  is  generally  about  4  or  5  ;  these  are  of  the  usual 
form  (not  remarkable  for  any  disproportion  of  the  two  ends),  of 
a  pale  clay  white,  inclining  to  olive,  with  a  few  well-defined 
black  or  deep  umber  spots  at  the  great  end,  and  with  others 
seen,  as  it  were,  beneath  the  surface  of  the  shell.  Two  or 
three  other  nests  were  made  in  the  apple-trees  of  an  adjoining 
orchard,  one  in  a  ])lace  of  difficult  access,  the  other  on  a  de- 
pending branch  easily  reached  by  the  hand.  These  were 
securely  fixed  horizontally  among  the  ascending  twigs,  and  were 
formed  externally  of  a  mass  of  dry,  wiry  weeds,  the  materials 
being  firmly  held  together  by  a  large  quantity  of  cudweed 
down,  in  some  places  softened  with  glutinous  saliva  so  as  to 
be  formed  into  coarse,  connecting  shreds.  The  round  edge  of 
the  nest  was  made  of  coils  of  the  wiry  stolons  of  a  common 
Cinquefoil  then  lined  with  exceedingly  fine  root-fibres ;  over 
the  whole,  to  give  elasticity,  were  laid  fine  stalks  of  a  slender 
juiicus,  or  minute  rush.  In  these  nests  the  eggs  were,  as  de- 
scribed by  Wilson  (except  as  to  form),  marked  with  smaller 
and  more  numerous  spots  than  the  preceding.  From  the  late- 
ness of  the  autumn,  at  which  period  incubation  is  still  going 


others 
,o  or 
ining 
1  de- 
were 
were 
torials 
iweed 
as  to 
dge  of 
mmon 
over 
ender 
as  de- 
maller 
e  late- 
going 


CKDAR   WAWVINd. 


157 


on,  it  would  appear  that  this  sperjcs  is  very  pnilifif,  and  must 
have  at  least  two  hatches  in  the  si-ason  ;  ft»r  as  late  as  the  7th 
of  Septeinhcr  a  brood,  in  this  vicJMity,  were  yet  in  the  nest. 
'I'lie  period  of  sittinj^  is  about  15  or  16  days;  and  while  tiie 
young  are  still  helpless,  it  is  surprising  to  witness  the  silenre  of 
the  parents,  uttering  no  eries,  nor  ui. iking  any  approaches  to 
those  who  may  iinlanger  or  jeopard  the  safety  of  thi  ir  brood  ; 
still,  they  are  Hying  round,  and  silently  watching  tlu-  tlrc.uK-d 
result,  and  approach  the  nest  the  moment  tiu'  intruder  disap- 
pears. 'Ihey  k'c^\  the  young,  at  first,  with  insects  and  smooth 
cater|)illars  ;  but  at  the  end  of  the  T,d  or  4th  day  they  are  ivA, 
like  the  old  ones,  almost  exclusively  on  swi-et  and  juicy  fruits, 
such  as  whortle  and  service  berries,  wild  and  cultivated  cher- 
ries, etc.  A  young  bird  from  one  of  the  nests  described,  in  the 
hemlock,  was  thrown  u])on  my  prolei  tiou.  li  iving  been  by 
some  means  cjecteil  from  his  cradle.  In  this  critical  situation, 
however,  he  had  been  well  fed,  or  ratlur  gorged,  with  bi-rries, 
and  was  merely  scratched  by  the  fill  he  had  receivetl.  Ked  on 
cherries  and  mulberries,  he  was  soon  well  Hedged,  while  his 
mate  in  the  nest  was  suffered  to  perish  by  the  forgetfulness  of 
his  natural  protectors.  Coeval  with  the  growth  of  his  wing- 
feathers  were  already  seen  the  remarkable  red  waxen  append- 
ages, showing  that  their  ajipearance  indicates  no  particular  (/^v 
or  sex;  many  birds,  in  fact,  being  without  these  ornaments 
during  their  whole  lives.  I  soon  found  my  interesting  //vAxv 
impatient  of  the  cage  and  extremely  \  or  k  ions,  gorging  him- 
self to  the  very  mouth  with  the  soft  fruits  on  which  he  was 
often  fed.  The  throat,  in  fact,  like  a  craw,  admits  of  distenti(jn, 
and  the  contents  are  only  gradually  passed  off  into  the  stomach. 
I  now  suffered  the  bird  to  Hy  at  large,  and  for  several  days  he 
descended  from  the  trees,  in  which  he  perched,  to  my  arm  for 
food  ;  but  the  moment  he  was  satisfied,  he  avoided  the  cage, 
and  ajipeared  unable  to  survive  the  loss  of  liberty.  He  now 
came  seldomer  to  me,  and  finally  joined  the  lisping  muster-cry 
of  fzc  tze  tze,  and  was  enticed  away  by  more  attractive  associates. 
When  young,  nature  provided  him  with  a  loud,  impatient  voice, 
and  te-did,  tc-did,  kai-ft'ifid  (often  also  the  clamorous  cry  of 


i. 


i  i   I 


Ill  ' 


I  h, 


'1 


m 


158 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


the  young  Baltimore),  was  his  deafening  and  ahnost  incessant 
call  for  food.  Another  young  bird  of  the  first  brood,  probably 
neglected,  cried  so  loud  and  plaintively  to  a  male  Baltimore 
Bird  in  the  same  tree  that  he  commenced  feeding  it.  Mr. 
\N'inshi]),  of  Brighton,  informs  me  that  one  of  the  young  Cedar 
Birds,  who  frequented  the  front  of  his  house  in  qi  est  of  honey- 
suckle berries,  at  length,  on  receiving  food  (probably  also 
abandoned  by  his  roving  parents),  threw  himself  wholly  on  his 
protection.  At  large  day  and  night,  he  still  regularly  attended 
the  dessert  of  the  dinner-table  for  his  portion  of  fruit,  and  re- 
mained steadfast  in  his  attachment  to  Mr,  W.  till  killed  by  an 
accident,  being  unfortunately  trodden  under  foot. 

Though  harmless,  exceedingly  gentle  and  ardess,  they  make 
some  show  of  defence  when  attacked  ;  as  a  second  bird  whicli 
I  brought  up,  destitute  of  the  red  appendages  on  the  wings, 
when  thii  'tened  elevated  his  crest,  looked  angry,  and  rei)eat- 
edly  snapped  with  his  bill. 

Almost  all  kinds  of  sweet  berries  are  sought  for  food  by  the 
American  Waxen-wing.  In  search  of  whortle-berries,  they 
retire  in  Pennsylvania  to  the  western  mountain-chains  of  the 
Alleghany  range  ;  and  in  autumn,  until  the  approach  of  winter, 
they  are  equally  attached  to  the  berries  of  the  Virginia  juniper, 
as  well  as  those  of  the  sour-gum  tree  and  the  wax-myrtle. 
They  also  feed  late  in  the  season  on  ripe  persimmons,  small 
winter-grapes,  bird-cherries,  the  fruit  of  the  pride  of  China, 
and  other  fruits.  The  kernels  and  seeds  of  these,  uninjured  by 
the  action  of  the  stomach,  are  strewed  about,  and  thus  acci- 
dentally planted  in  abundance  wherever  these  birds  frequent. 
Like  their  prototype,  the  preceding  species,  the  migrations, 
and  time  and  place  of  breeding,  are  influenced  by  their  supply 
of  food.  In  the  spring  of  1831  they  arrived  in  this  vicinity  as 
usual ;  but  in  consequence  of  the  failure  of  cherries,  scarcely 
any  were  bred,  and  very  few  were  either  to  be  heard  or  seen 
in  the  vicinity.  In  parts  of  New  England  this  bird  is  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Canaihi  Robin  ;  and  by  the  French  Cana- 
dians it  IS  fancifully  called  Rccollcf,  from  the  color  of  its  crest 
resemblimr  that  of  the  hood  of  this  religious  order. 


'^H 


*#rr 


111 


NORTHERN    .^HkiKE. 

BUTCHER   BIRD. 
LaXIUS    B<jRE-UJ&- 


Char.  Above,  bluish  ash,  paler  on  rnmp;  BBnafler  pans  dull  white,  with 
fine  wavy  lines  of  brownisli  gray :  bar  on  .-ri^ik:  «d  3i>ead  black ;  wings  and 
tail  black  tipped  with  white;  white  patch,  ucd  «iiig;  outer  tail  feathers 
white.     Length  9^4  to  10^4  inches. 

A'c'sf.  In  a  tree  or  low  bush  ;  large  and  ntsm^iilT  made  of  sticks  and 
grass,  lined  with  leaves  or  feathers. 

£,-,Xs.  4-6 ;  dull  gray  with  green  tint,  sp-jGneiiil  "wiih  lilac  and  brown  ; 
1.05  X  0,75. 

This  little  wary  Northern  hunter  ia  m^v^t  commonly  seen  in 
this  part  of  the  continent  at  the  commeiacf  ment  of  winter,  a 
few  remaining  with  us  throughout  thai  ■><ea*<rjn.  They  extend 
their  wanderings,  according  to  Aud'xb«0'ra.  a*  far  as  Natchez, 
and  are  not  uncommon  in  Kentucky  in  -s^-ere  winters.  In 
March  they  retire  to  the  North,  thougti)  srjme  take  up  their 
summer  abode  in  the  thickest  forests  in  Peemsylvania  and  New 
England.  The  nest  is  said  to  be  large  u;in>d  compact,  in  the 
fork  of  a  small  tree,  and  sometime;^  in  an  ' -'''.-■tree,  composed 
externally  of  dried  grass,  with  whiti.^h  m. .-.  -.:. ":  well  lined  with 
feathers.     The  eggs  are  about  6,   of  a.  pfsk  cinereous  white. 


Ii 


iill 

t 


M 


;6o 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


m^ 


<i 


\i 


thickly  marked  at  the  greater  end  with  spots  and  streaks  of 
rufous.  l"he  i)eriod  of  sitting  is  about  15  days.  The  young 
appear  early  in  June  or  the  latter  end  of  May. 

The  principal  food  of  this  species  is  large  insects,  such  as 
grasshoppers,  crickets,  and  spiders.  With  the  surplus  of  tlie 
former,  as  well  as  small  birds,  he  disposes  in  a  very  singular 
manner,  by  impaling  them  ujion  thorns,  as  if  thus  providing 
securely  for  a  future  supply  of  provision.  In  the  abundance, 
however,  which  surrounds  him  in  the  amjile  store-house  of 
Nature,  he  soon  loses  sight  of  this  needless  and  sportive  econ- 
omy, and,  like  the  thievish  Pie  and  Jay,  he  suffers  his  forgotten 
store  to  remain  drying  and  bleaching  in  the  elements  till  no 
longer  palatable  or  digestible.  As  this  little  Butcher,  like  his 
more  common  European  representative,  preys  upon  birds, 
these  impaled  grasshoppers  were  imaginetl  to  be  lures  to  attract 
his  victims ;  but  his  courage  and  rapacity  render  such  snares 
both  useless  and  imj^robable,  as  he  has  been  known,  with  the 
temerity  of  a  Falcon,  to  follow  a  bird  into  an  open  cage  sooner 
than  lose  his  quarry.  j\Ir.  J.  Brown,  of  Cambridge,  informs  me 
that  one  of  these  birds  had  the  boldness  to  attack  two  Canaries 
in  a  cage,  suspended  one  fine  winter's  day  at  the  window.  The 
poor  songsters  in  their  fears  fluttered  to  the  side  of  the  cage, 
and  one  of  them  thrust  his  head  through  the  bars  of  his  prison  ; 
at  this  instant  the  wily  Butcher  tore  off  his  head,  and  left  the 
boilv  dead  in  the  cage.  The  cause  of  the  accident  seemed 
■wholly  mysterious,  till  on  the  following  da}-  the  bold  hunter 
was  found  to  have  entered  the  room,  through  the  open  window, 
with  a  view  to  despatch  the  remaining  victim  ;  and  but  for 
timely  interference  it  would  have  instantly  shared  the  fate  of 
its  companion.  On  another  occasion,  while  a  Mr.  Lock  in  this 
vicinity  was  engaged  in  fowling,  he  wounded  a  Robin,  who 
flew  to  a  little  distance  and  descended  to  the  ground  :  he  soon 
heard  the  disabled  bird  uttering  unusual  cries,  and  on  approach- 
ing found  him  in  the  grasp  of  the  Shrike.  He  snatched  up  the 
bird  from  its  devourer  ;  but  having  tasted  blood,  it  still  fol- 
lowed, as  if  determined  not  to  relinquish  its  proposed  prey, 
and  only  desisted  from  the  quest  on  receiving  a  mortal  wound. 


M 


NORTHERN    ^IIRIKE. 


I6l 


;ular 

(ling 
mce, 

ie  of 
;con- 
otten 
ill  no 
.e  his 
birds, 
Lttract 
snares 
th  the 
sooner 
ms  me 
marie  s 
.  The 
cage, 
rison ; 
eft  the 
leemed 
hunter 
lindow, 
ut  for 
ite  of 
ui  this 
,  who 
e  soon 
roach- 
up  the 
ill  fol- 
prey, 
vound. 


The  propensity  for  thus  singularly  si-curing  its  prey  is  also 
practised  on  birds,  which  it  impales  in  the  same  manner,  and 
afterwards  tears  them  to  pieces  at  leisure. 

I'rom  his  attempts  to  imitate  the  notes  of  other  small  birds, 
in  Canada  and  some  parts  of  New  England  he  is  sometimes 
called  a  Mocking  Bird.  His  usual  note,  like  that  of  the  follow- 
ing species,  resembles  the  discordant  creaking  of  a  sign-board 
hinge  ;  and  my  friend  Mr.  lirown  has  heard  one  mimicking  the 
([uacking  of  his  Ducks,  so  that  they  answered  to  him  as  to  a 
dc(  oy  fowl.  They  also  imitate  other  birds,  and  I  have  ])een 
informed  that  they  sing  pretty  well  themselves  at  times,  or 
rather  chatter,  and  mimic  the  songs  of  other  birds,  as  if  with  a 
view  to  entice  them  intcj  sight,  for  the  purpose  of  making  them 
their  prey.  This  fondness  for  imitation,  as  in  the  Pies,  may 
however  be  merely  the  result  of  caprice. 

So  complete  at  times  is  the  resemblance  between  the 
Mocking  Bird  {Mi/nits po//ygIof/i/s)  and  this  species  o{  Lci/iius. 
that  it  is  difficult  to  distinguish  them  apart.  I  have  lately 
heard  one  (November  loth,  i>'^33),  employed  in  a  low  and  soft 
warble  resembling  that  of  the  Song  Sparrow  at  the  j)resent 
season,  and  immediately  after  his  note  changed  to  that  of  the 
Catbird.  Like  that  pre-eminent  minstrel,  the  Or]:)heus,  he 
also  mounts  to  the  topmost  spray  of  some  lofty  tree  to  display 
his  deceptive  talent  and  mislead  the  small  birds  so  as  to  bring 
them  within  his  reach.  His  attitudes  are  also  light  and  airy, 
and  his  graceful,  flowing  tail  is  kept  in  fontastic  motion. 

The  parents  and  their  brood  move  in  company  in  ([uest  of 
their  subsistence,  and  remain  together  the  whole  season.  The 
male  boldly  attacks  even  the  Hawk  or  the  Kagle  in  their  de- 
fence, and  with  such  fury  that  they  generally  decline  the  onset. 

The  Butcher  Bird  breeds  from  about  latitude  50^  northward,  mi 
grating  in  winter  south  to  the  Potomac  and  Oliio  valleys. 

Dr.  Arthur  Chadbourne.  of  Cambridge,  reports  that  he  has  heard 
a  female  sing,  and  describes  her  as  ••  an  unusually  fine  singer  and 
quite  a  mimic." 

VOL.    I.  —  II 


IS 


;  < 


I) 


1  i» 

1 

1 

1 

r 

1 

'. 

102 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


LOGGERHEAD    SHRIKE. 

LaNIUS    LUDUVICIANLS. 


I! 


fi  }i 


il    i 


II 


Char.  Above,  bluish  ash,  generally  not  much  paler  on  rump;  under- 
parts  pure  white,  rarely  any  lines  of  gray;  flanks  tinged  with  gray; 
forehead  and  side  of  head  black  ;  wings  and  tail  black  tipped  with  white  ; 
white  patch  on  wings  ;  outer  tail  feathers  white.  Length  SJ<  to  9^-^ 
inches. 

Distinguished  from  borealis  by  smaller  size  and  by  the  black  forehead 
and  white  under-parts. 

A\st.  In  a  tree  ;  roughly  made  of  twigs  and  grass,  lined  wiih  leaves 
and  feathers. 

/?V,v*".  4-6 ;  dull  gray  with  green  tint  spotted  with  lilac  and  brown  ,: 
0.95  X  0.70. 

This  species  principally  inhabits  the  warmer  parts  of  the 
United  States,  residing  and  breeding  from  North  Carolina  to 
Florida,  where  I  have  obser\'ed  it  likewise  in  winter.  It  was 
also  seen  in  the  table-land  of  Mexico  by  that  enterprising  natu- 
ralist and  collector,  Mr.  Bullock,  and  my  friend  Mr.  T.  Town- 
send  found  it  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  range  and  in  the  territory 
of  Oregon,  According  to  Audubon  it  affects  the  low  countries, 
being  seldom  met  with  in  the  mountainous  districts. 

Its  habits  are  shy  and  retiring,  and  it  renders  itself  useful, 
and  claims  protection  by  destroying  mice  around  the  planta- 
tion, for  which  it  sits  and  watches  near  the  rice-stacks  for 
hotu"s  together,  seldom  failing  of  its  prey  as  soon  as  it  appears. 
Like  most  of  the  genus,  it  is  also  well  satisfied  with  large  in- 
sects, crickets,  and  grasshoppers,  which  like  the  preceding 
Si  ?cies  it  often  impales.  In  the  breeding-season,  according 
to  Dr.  Bachman,  it  has  a  song  which  bears  some  resemblance 
to  that  of  the  young  Brown  Thrush  ;  and  though  very  irregidar, 
the  notes  are  not  unjileasing.  At  other  times  its  discordant 
call  may  almost  be  compared  to  the  creaking  of  a  sign-board 
in  windy  weather ;  it  probably  has  also  the  usual  talent  for 
mimicry.  The  pairs  mate  about  March,  at  which  time  the 
male  frequently  feeds  the  female,  and  shows  great  courage  in 
defending  his  nest  from  the  intrusion  of  other  birds.     The  nest 


LOGGERHEAD   SHRIKE. 


163 


under- 
gray  ; 
white ; 
to  ()l4 

irehead 
I  leaves 

brown  : 

of  the 
lUna  to 
It  was 
ig  natu- 
,  Town- 
erritory 
untries, 


is,  according  to  Pr.  Bachman,  usually  made  in  the  ouLer  linil)> 
of  a  tree  such  as  the  live-oak  or  sweet-gum.  and  often  tm  a 
cedar  15  to  30  feet  from  the  ground.  It  is  coar-,cly  made  of 
dry  crooked  twigs,  and  lined  with  root-fibres  and  slender  grass. 
The  eggs,  3  to  5,  are  greenish  white.  Incubation  is  per- 
formed by  both  sexes  in  turn,  but  each  bird  procures  its  own 
food  in  the  intervals.  They  rear  two  broods  in  the  season. 
Its  manners  resemble  those  of  a  Hawk ;  it  sits  silent  and 
watchful  until  it  espies  its  prey  on  the  ground,  when  it  pounces 
upon  it,  and  strikes  first  with  the  bill,  in  the  manner  of  small 
birds,  seizing  the  object  immediately  after  in  its  claws  :  but  it 
seldom  attacks  birds  except  when  previously  wounded. 

The  Loggerhead  is  now  said  to  be  restricted  to  the  southern 
portion  of  the  Eastern  States  north  to  X'irginia.  Oliio.  southern 
Illinois,  and  the  (ireat  Lakes:  and  through  New  York  to  north- 
ern New  England  and  Now  llrunswick. 


Note.  —  The  White-humi'kd  Shriki:  {L.  ludoviciamts  excti- 
bitori(ics)  is  a  pale  form  restricted  to  the  Western  plains,  and  which 
in  habits  as  in  appearance  differs  but  little  from  the  Loggerhead. 


If  useful, 
planta- 
rks  for 
^-ippears. 
arge  in- 
eceding 
cording 

blance 
rregidar, 
pcordant 
l;n-board 
ilent  for 
hme  the 
|urage  in 

:he  nest 


'11 


hi. 


II 


V 


REDSTART. 

Setophaga  ruticilla. 

Char.  Male :  lustrous  blue-black ;  belly  white ;  patch  on  sides  of 
breast,  basal  half  of  wing-quills  and  of  tail,  orange  red.  Female  :  the 
black  of  the  male  rei)laced  by  olive  brown,  the  red  replaced  by  dull 
yellow.  Young  males  like  female,  b...  gradually  changing  to  full  plumage. 
Bill  and  feet  black.     Length  5  to  5^4  inches. 

A'rsf  An  e.vceedingly  graceful  and  compact  structure  saddled  on  a 
branch,  or  supported  by  forked  twigs  of  a  sapling,  from  5  to  20  feet  from 
the  ground.  It  is  composed  of  a  variety  of  materials,  in  this  region 
most  commonly  of  grass  and  vegetable  fibres  lined  with  fine  grass  or 
horse  hair. 

i?.,:;'-^.  4-;:  dull  white,  spotted  chiefly  around  the  larger  end  with 
brown  and  lilac  ;  0.65  X  0.50. 

Thi.s  beautiful  and  curious  bird  takes  up  its  summer  resi- 
dence in  almost  every  part  of  the  North  American  continent, 
being  found  in  Canada,  in  the  remote  interior  near  Red  River 
in  the  latitude  of  49  degrees,  throughout  Louisiana,  Arkansas, 
and  the  maritime  parts  of  Mexico  ;  in  all  of  which  vast  coun- 
tries it  familiarly  breeds  and  resides  during  the  mild  season, 
withdrawing  early  in  September  to  tropical  America,  where,  in 
the  perpetual  spring  and  summer  of  the  larger  West  India 
islands,  the  species  again  find  means  of  support.  At  length, 
instigated  by  more  powerful  feelings  than  those  of  ordinary 
want,  the  male,  now  clad  in  his  beautiful  nuptial  livery,  and 
accompanied  by  his  mate,  seeks  anew  the  friendly  but  far 
distant  natal   regions  of  his   race.     In  no  haste,  the  playful 


REDSTART. 


16: 


Redstart  does  not  appear  in  Pennsylvania  until  late  in  April. 
The  month  of  May,  about  the  close  of  the  first  week,  u>hers 
his  arrival  into  the  States  of  New  Kngland  :  but  in  Louisiana 
he  is  seen  as  early  as  the  beginning  of  March.  He  is  no  \>en- 
sioner  upon  the  bounty  of  man.  Though  sometimes  seen,  on 
his  first  arrival,  in  the  darkest  part  of  the  orchard  or  garden, 
or  by  the  meandering  brook,  he  seeks  to  elude  obser\ation, 
and  now,  the  great  object  of  his  migrations  having  arrived,  he 
retires  with  his  mate  to  the  thickest  of  the  sylvan  shade.  Like 
his  relative  Sylvias,  he  is  full  of  life  and  in  perpetual  motion. 
He  does  not,  like  the  loitering  Pewee,  wait  the  accidental  ap- 
proach of  his  insect  prey,  but  carrying  the  war  amongst  them, 
he  is  seen  flitting  from  bough  to  bough,  or  at  times  pursuing 
the  flying  troop  of  winged  insects  from  the  top  of  the  tallest 
tree  in  a  zig-zag,  hawk-like,  descending  flight,  to  the  ground, 
while  the  clicking  of  the  bill  declares  distinctly  both  his  object 
and  success.  Then  alighting  on  some  adjoining  branch,  in- 
tently watching  with  his  head  extended,  he  runs  along  upon  it 
for  an  instant  or  two,  flirting  like  a  fon  his  expanded,  brillimt 
tail  from  side  to  side,  and  again  suddenly  shoots  off  like  an 
arrow  in  a  new  direction,  after  the  fresh  game  he  has  discov- 
ered in  the  distance,  and  for  which  he  appeared  to  be  recon- 
noitring. At  first  the  males  are  seen  engaged  in  active  strife, 
pursuing  each  other  in  wide  circles  through  the  forest.  The 
female  seeks  out  her  prey  with  less  action  and  flirting,  and  in 
her  manners  resembles  the  ordinary  Sylvias. 

The  notes  of  the  male,  though  not  possessed  of  great  com- 
pass, aie  highly  musical,  and  at  times  sweet  and  agreeably 
varied  like  those  of  the  Warblers.  ^Lany  of  these  tones,  as  they 
are  mere  trills  of  harmony,  cannot  be  recalled  by  any  words. 
Their  song  on  their  first  arrival  is  however  nearly  uniform,  and 
greatly  resembles  the  '/s/i  ^tsh  tsh  tshee,  fs/ie,  tshe,  tshe  tshea,  or  Vy// 
'tsh  'isli  'tshitshce  of  the  summer  Yellow  Bird  (Sxlvia  cestha), 
uttered  in  a  piercing  and  rather  slender  tone  ;  now  and  then 
also  agreeably  varied  with  a  somewhat  plaintive  flowing  'tshe 
tshe  tshe,  or  a  more  agreeable  ^tshit  'tshit  a  'tshee,  given  almost 
in  the  tones  of  the  common  Yellow  Bird  {Fn'm^i/la  trfst/s).     I 


lit 


Ml 


:i 


II 


\\\ 


I-  ■». 


i60 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


If 


if 


have  likewise  beard  individuals  warble  out  a  variety  of  sweet 
and  temtcr,  irilling,  rather  loud  and  shrill  notes,  so  superior  to 
the  ordinan"  lay  of  incubation  that  the  performer  would 
scarcely  be  supposed  the  same  bird.  On  some  occasions  the 
male  also,  when  angry  or  alarmed,  utters  a  loud  and  snapping 
chir|j. 

The  nest  of  this  elegant  Sylvan  Flycatcher  is  very  neat  and 
substantial,  fixed  occasionally  near  the  forks  of  a  slender 
hickory  or  beech  sa])ling,  but  more  generally  fastenerl  or  agglu- 
tinated to  the  depending  branches  or  twigs  of  the  former ; 
sometimes  securely  seated  amidst  the  stout  footstalks  of  the 
waving  foliage  in  the  more  usual  manner  of  the  delicate  cradle 
of  the  Indian  Tailor  Bird,  but  in  the  deep  and  cool  shade  of  the 
forest,  instead  of  the  blooming  bower.  Both  parents,  but  par- 
ticularly the  male,  exhibit  great  concern  for  the  safety  of  their 
nest,  whether  containing  eggs  only  or  young,  and  on  its  being 
approached,  the  male  will  flit  about  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
invader,  regardless  of  his  personal  safety,  and  exhibitmg  unequi- 
vocal marks  of  distress.  The  parents  also,  in  their  solicitude 
and  fear,  keep  \^)  an  incessant  '/s/ii/>  when  their  infant  brood 
are  even  distantly  ajjproached. 

Nuttall  classed  the  Redstart  with  the  Flycatchers,  as  some  of 
its  habit?  —  such  as  darting  from  a  perch,  and  capturing  insects 
while  on  the  \^^ng —  are  typical  of  that  family,  but  the  more  mod- 
em systematists  class  it  with  the  Wood  Warblers.  It  is  an  abun- 
dant summer  resident  of  this  eastern  province,  breeding  from 
about  the  \-aHev  of  the  Potomac  to  southern  Labrador. 


'i:i 


HOODED   WARHI.ER. 


1O7 


HOODKI)    WARBLER. 


SVI.VANIA    MITRATA. 

Thak.  Male:  above,  yellow  olive  ;  beneath,  rich  yellow  :  ^ides  «hadcd 
uith  pale  olive;  head  and  neck  black,  enclosing  a  wide  band  of  yellow 
across  forehead  and  through  eyes;  tail  with  patch  of  white  on  two  or 
three  outer  tail-feathers.  Bill  black,  feet  Hcsh-color.  Female:  similar  to 
male,  but  sometimes  lacking  the  black,  in  which  specimens  the  crown  is 
olive  and  the  throat  yellow. 

vVV-rA  In  a  low  bush;  made  of  leaves  and  vegetable  fibre,  lined  with 
grass  or  horse-hair. 

E,L,X''-  4-5 ;  creamy  white,  spotted  chiefly  around  the  larger  end  wi»h 
brown  and  lilac;  0.70  x  0.53. 

This  beautiful  niifl  singularly  marked  summer  species,  com- 
mon in  the  South,  is  rarely  seen  to  the  north  of  the  State 
of  Maryland.  It  retires  to  Mexico  or  the  West  Indies  proba- 
bly to  pass  the  winter.  At  Savannah,  in  (i(."orgia,  it  arrives 
from  the  South  about  the  20th  of  March,  according  to  Wilson. 
It  is  partial  to  low  and  shady  situations  darkened  with  under- 
wood, is  frequent  among  the  cane-brakes  of  Tennessee  and 
Mississippi,  and  is  exceedingly  active,  and  almost  perpetually 
engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  winged  insects.  While  thus  em- 
ployed, it  now  and  then  utters  three  loud,  and  not  unmusical, 
very  lively  notes,  resembling  the  words,  f7Vfe  tii'i't-  'hi'ittshc. 
In  its  simple  song  and  general  habits  it  therefore  much  resem- 
bles the  suminer  Yellow  Ijird.  Its  neat  and  compact  nest 
is  generally  fixed  in  the  fork  of  a  small  bush,  formed  outwardly 
of  moss  and  flax,  lined  with  hair,  and  sometimes  feathers ;  the 
eggs,  about  5,  are  grayish  white,  with  reddish  spots  towards 
the  great  end. 


u 


II 


The  Hooded  Warbler  is  a  Soutliern  species,  but  is  a  regular 
sutnmer  resident  of  the  ConnecticiU  valley,  and  has  been  found 
l)reeding  near  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  in  southern  Michigan.  It 
is  said  to  be  more  abundant  in  South  Carolina  than  elsewhere. 


I ; 


i 


I, 


M 


II 


1 68 


SINGING    lURDS. 


WILSON'S   WARBLER. 

WILSON'S    HLACK    CAP, 
SyIA'AMA    I'lSII.I.A. 

Char.  Above,  olive  ;  crown  bhick  ;  forehead,  cheeks,  and  entire 
under  parts  yellow.  Female  ami  young  duller,  and  black  cap  often 
obscure,  sometimes  lacking.     I.engtli,  4^^  to  5  inches. 

.\\-jf.  On  the  ground,  in  a  bushy  swamp,  or  on  branch  of  low  bush  ; 
of  twigs  and  vegetable  fibre  lined  with  moss  or  fine  grass. 

^'iT^-     4-6;  white  spotted  witii  brown  and  lavender;  0.60  X  0.50. 

This  remarkable  species  of  sylvan  Flycatcher  was  first  ob- 
served by  Wilson  in  New  Jersey  and  Delaware  as  a  transitory 
bird  of  passage.  Audubon  has  noticed  it  in  I.abrador  and 
Newfoundland,  where  it  was  breeding,  and  it  is  not  uncommon 
irt  the  State  of  Maine.  He  also  saw  it  in  his  way  to  Texas 
early  in  April.  It  begins  to  migrate  from  Newfoundland  about 
the  middle  of  .August,  and  is  seen  in  Maine  in  October.  Mr. 
'I  ownsend  ami  myself  had  the  pleasure  of  observing  the  arrival 
of  the  little  cheerful  songsters  in  the  wilds  of  Oregon  about  the 
first  week  of  May,  where  these  birds  commonly  take  up  their 
summer  residence,  and  seem  almost  the  counterpart  of  our 
brilliant  and  cheerful  Yellow  Birds  (Sv/i-ia  ivstii'a),  tuning 
their  lay  to  the  same  brief  and  lively  ditty,  like  'fs/i  'ts/i  ^fs/i 
tslua,  or  something  similar ;  their  call,  however,  is  more  brief 


WILSON'S    WAKIJLEK. 


169 


and 
union 
ll'exas 
labout 
Mr. 
rrival 
lit  the 
their 
our 
lining 
'  '/s/i 
brief 


and  less  loud.  They  were  rattier  familiar  an<l  nnsusi)irious,  kept 
Ml  l)iislier>  more  than  trees,  particularly  in  the  thickets  which 
bordered  the  Columbia,  busuy  engaged  collecting  their  insect 
fare,  and  only  varying  their  employment  by  an  occasional  and 
earnest  warble.  l>y  the  12th  of  May  they  were  already  tVed- 
ing  their  full-tledged  young,  though  I  also  found  a  nest  on  tlie 
1 6th  of  the  same  month,  containing  4  eggs,  and  just  commen- 
cing incubation.  The  nest  was  in  the  branch  of  a  small  service 
bush,  laitl  very  adroitly  as  to  concealment  upon  an  accidental 
mass  of  old  moss  (C's/wa)  that  had  fallen  from  a  tree  above. 
It  was  made  chiefly  of  grountl  moss  (Ilypnuin),  with  a  thick 
lining  of  dry,  wiry,  slender  grass.  The  female,  when  a|)- 
proached,  went  off  slyly,  running  aK>ng  the  ground  like  a 
mouse.  The  eggs  are  very  similar  ti-  those  of  the  summer 
Yellow  l>ird,  sprinkled  with  spots  of  i)alc  olive  brown,  inclined 
to  be  ilisposed  in  a  ring  at  the  greater  end,  as  observed  by  Mr. 
.\udubon  in  a  nest  which  he  found  in  Labrador  made  in  a 
dwarf  fir,  also  made  of  moss  and  slender  fir- twigs. 


Wilson's  Ulack  Cap  is  a  regular,  though  not  common,  summer 
resident  of  northern  New  England,  breeding  chiefly  north  of  the 
United  States.  It  is  not  uncommon  in  the  Maritime  Provinces, 
and  fairly  common  as  a  migrant  about  Montreal,  but  is  rartly  seen 
in  Ontario,  though  abundant  in  Ohio,  and  reported  as  brcedin;;  in 
Minnesota. 

Note.  —  The  Smali.-headf.d  Flycatcher  (IVilsonia  mimtta 
and  Sylvia  tiiinuia  of  Wi'son  and  .Audubon)  was  given  a  place  in 
the  •'  Manual "  by  Xuttall,  who  alleged  to  have  seen  ♦he  species. 
Not  having  been  found  by  any  of  the  more  modern  observers,  it 
has  been  omitted  from  many  recent  works.  It  was  placed  on  tlie 
"hypothetical  list  "  bv  the  .A.  O.  C.  committee,  but  has  been  again 
brought  forward  by  Ridgeway.  in  his  "  .Manual."  Wilson  stated 
that  he  saw  it  in  New  Jersey:  .Audubon  said  he  shot  one  in  Ken- 
tucky ;  and  Nuttall's  e.xamples  were  in  Massachusetts.  .As  the 
birds  were  seen  by  Nuttall  only  "at  the  approach  of  winter."  it  is 
probable  they  were  the  young  of  the  year  of  some  of  the  more 
northern  breeding  species. 


U( 


M 


i 


II 


1 


V 


BLU I :-( ; RAV   GXA'ICA rCH E R. 

<  HAk.  Male:  ahovc,  blui.-Ii  gray,  darker  on  head,  paler  on  rump; 
forehead  and  line  over  the  eye  black;  beneath,  pale  blui>h  white;  wiiii;> 
du^ky;  tail  longer  than  the  l)udy,  the  outer  feathers  partly  white.  Fe- 
male: similar  in  the  male,  but  lacking  the  black  on  head.     Length  4,' J 


to 


inches 


AV.f/.  A  graceful,  cup-shaped  structure,  saddled  on  limb  of  a  tree  15 
or  20  feet  from  the  ground;  composed  of  felted  plant  fibre  ornamented 
externally  with  lichens  and  lined  with  feathers. 

£^'s.     ^-y,  bluish  white,  speckled  with  bright  brown;  0.55  X  0.45. 

Hut  for  the  ]ei\^th  of  the  tail,  this  wouUl  rank  among  the 
most  diminutive  of  birds.  It  is  a  very  dexterous,  lively  insect- 
himter,  Mid  keeps  commonly  in  the  tops  of  tall  trees;  its 
motions  are  ra])id  and  incessant,  api)'\iring  always  in  quest  of 
its  prey,  darting  from  bough  to  bough  with  hanging  wings  and 
elevated  tail,  uttering  only  at  times  a  feeble  song  of  /see  tsee  tser, 
scarcely  louder  than  the  squeak  of  a  mouse.  It  arrives  in  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  from  the  South  about  the  middle  of  April. 
and  seldom  passes  to  the  north  of  the  States  of  New  York  and 
Ohio,  though  others,  following  the  course  of  the  large  rivers,  pen- 
etrate into  Kentucky,  Indiana,  and  Arkansas.  Its  first  visits 
are  paid  to  the  blooming  willows  along  the  borders  of  water- 
courses and  besides  other  small  insects  it  now  preys  on  the 
troublesome  mosquitoes.  About  the  beginning  of  May  it  forms 
its  nest,  which  is  usually  fixed  among  twigs,  at  the  height  of  10, 
or  sometimes  even  50,  feet  from  the  ground,  near  the  summit 


11 


bll'i;-(;kav  (i\Ar<\r(iiKR. 


i/i 


of  a  forest  tree.  It  is  formed  of  slight  materials,  stirh  as  the 
scales  of  1)ir1.«,,  hlems  and  parts  of  fallen  leavis,  withered  blos- 
soms, fern  down,  and  the  silky  fibres  of  various  plants,  lined 
with  a  few  horsehairs,  and  coated  externally  with  li<  hen^.  In 
this  frail  nest  the  Cow  Troojjial  sometimes  deposits  her  ej^'g,  and 
leaves  her  offspring  to  the  eare  of  these  affectionate  and  pigmy 
nurses.  In  this  case,  as  with  the  Cuckoo  in  the  nest  of  the 
Yellow  Wren  and  that  of  the  Red-tailed  Warbler,  the  egg  i«. 
probably  ct)nveyed  by  the  parent,  and  jjlaced  in  this  small  ami 
slender  cradle,  which  would  not  be  able  to  susuin  the  weight 
or  receive  the  body  of  the  intruiler. 

Though  tlassecl  witii  the  Flycatchers  by  Nuttall  and  other  writers 
of  his  (lay,  this  species  is  now  ranked  as  one  ol  the  highest  tvpes  of 
tlie  Oscines,  or  Singing  liinls.  and  a  sub-family  has  been  made  for 
this  and  the  two  Western  forms.  Mr.  William  .Saunders  finds  the 
present  species  fairly  conuuou  near  London,  Ontario,  but  it  is  only 
casual  in  New  England,  and  is  rarely  seen  north  of  latitude  42'. 
It  winters  in  tlie  Gulf  States  and  southward. 

Mr.  Chapman  tells  us  that  this  bird  has  "  an  e.xcjuisitely  finished 
song.'"  but  the  voice  is  ••  possessed  of  so  little  volume  as  to  be  in- 
audible unless  one  is  quite  near  the  singer." 


I '.  I ' 


tSt'i', 

I  in  the 
April, 
[■k  antl 
>,  pen- 
visits 
water- 
)n  the 
forms 
of  10, 
limmit 


ill.  '■  i 


^ 


yf:llow-breasted  chat. 

ICl'KRIA    VIREX.S. 

Char.  Above,  olive;  lores  black;  throat  and  breast  rich  yellow; 
belly  white.     Length  7  to  8  inches. 

A\'st.  In  a  thicket  2  or  3  feet  from  the  ground  ;  of  dried  leaves,  strips 
of  bark,  or  grass  lined  with  fine  grass  or  fibres. 

E,i;i;-s.  3-4;  white,  with  pink  tint,  spotted  with  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.90 
X  0.70. 

This  remarkable  bird  is  another  summer  resident  of  the 
United  States  which  passes  the  winter  in  tropical  America, 
being  found  in  (Iniana  and  Brazil,  so  that  its  migrations  prob- 
ably extend  indifferently  into  the  milder  regions  of  both 
hemispheres.  Even  the  birds  essentially  troi)ical  are  still 
known  to  migrate  to  different  distances  on  either  side  the 
equator,  so  essential  and  necessary  is  this  wandering  habit  to 
almost  all  the  feathered  race. 

The  Icteria  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  about  the  first  week  in 
May,  and  does  not  usually  appear  to  proceed  farther  north  and 
east  than  the  States  of  New  York  or  Connecticut.  To  the 
west  it  is  found  in  Kentucky,  and  ascends  the  Ohio  to  the 
borders  of  Eake  Erie.  In  the  distant  interior,  however,  near 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  towards  the  sources  of  the  Arkansas, 
this  bird  was  observed  by  Mr.  Say,  and  Mr.  Townsend  saw  it 


til 


-^*1' 


YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT. 


1/3 


[ek  in 
h  and 

the 

the 

near 

|insas, 

,a\v  it 


at  Walla- Walla,  on  the  Columbi  .  •  n^  in  the  month  of 
June.  It  retires  to  the  south  about  liTutc  middle  of  August,  or 
as  soon  as  the  only  brood  it  raises  --.:■:  '^ti-d  to  undertake  their 
distant  journey. 

The  males,  as  in  many  other  migrirwiig  birds,  who  are  not 
continually  paired,  arrive  several  (h.j^  Wfore  the  females.  As 
soon  as  our  bird  has  chosen  hin  retre.^."..  which  is  commonly  in 
some  thorny  or  viny  thicket  where  :.■:  jbtain  concealment, 

he  becomes  jealous  of  his  assumeil  rtpai*  and  resents  the  least 
intrusion,  scolding  all  who  ap[)roach  m  a  variet}-  of  odd  and 
uncouth  tones  very  difficult  to  descTDlwe  or  imitate,  except  by 
a  whistling,  in  which  case  the  bird  may  ht  made  to  approach, 
but  seldom  within  sight.  His  resp(jru-!cs  o©  such  occasions  are 
constant  and  rapid,  expressive  of  anger  amd  anxiety ;  and  still 
unseen,  his  voice  shifts  fnjm  place  to  pfec-e  amidst  the  thicket. 
Some  of  these  notes  resemble  the  ^Eii-r-iioi^  of  the  wings  of  a 
flying  duck,  at  first  loud  and  rapid,.  tEc-m  -yanking  till  they  seem 
to  end  in  single  notes.  A  succession  ©f  other  tones  are  now 
heard,  some  like  the  barking  oi  yoTxtES  p»a![;)pies,  with  a  variety 
of  hollow,  guttural,  uncommon  sorinxd-j.  frtjquently  repeated, 
and  terminated  occasionally  Vjv  stjmetBiiDnag  like  the  mewing  of 
a  (  at,  but  hoarser,  —  a  tone  to  which  alll!  eorar  Vireos,  particularly 
the  young,  have  frecjuent  recurrence.  Ml  these  notes  are 
uttered  with  vehemence,  and  with  sricSn  strange  and  various 
modulations  as  to  appear  near  or  dBtamtt,  Hike  the  manoeuvres 
of  ventriloquism.  In  mild  weather  al-so,  when  the  moon 
.shines,  this  extiberant  gabbling  is  heard  HMrariy  throughout  the 
night,  as  if  the  performer  was  di.sputing:  mitii  the  echoes  of  his 
own  voice. 

Soon  after  their  arrival,  or  about  tine  maiddle  of  May,  the 
Icterias  begin  to  build,  fixing  the  nest  csunanoiiLly  in  a  bramble 
bush,  in  an  interlaced  thicket,  a  vine,  ©r  small  cedar,  4  or  5 
feet  from  the  ground.  The  young  are  hailched  in  the  short 
])eriod  of  1 2  days,  and  leave  the  nest  afearatt  the  second  week 
in  June.  While  the  female  is  sitting,,  the  cries  of  the  male  are 
still  more  loud  and  incessant.  He  n.jw  braves  concealment, 
and  at  times  mounts  into  the  air  alnaost  perpendicularly  30 


i 


174 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


!   'i 


\l  ' 


m 


or  40  feet,  with  ]vs  legs  hanging  down,  and  descending  as  he 
rose,  by  re]ieated  jerks,  he  seems  to  be  in  a  paroxysm  of  fear 
and  anger.  The  usual  mode  of  Hying  is  not,  however,  different 
from  that  of  other  birds. 

The  food  of  the  Icteria  consists  of  beetles  and  other  shelly 
insects  ;  and  as  the  summer  advances,  they  feed  on  various 
kinds  of  berries,  like  the  Flycatchers,  and  seem  particularly 
fond  of  whortleberries.  They  are  frequent  through  the  Middle 
States,  in  hedges,  thickets,  and  near  rivulets  and  watery 
situations. 

This  Chat  is  now  found  regularly  in  Connecticut  and  northern 
Ohio,  and  sparingly  in  Massachusetts.  A  few  examples  have  been 
taken  in  New  Hampshire  and  southern  Ontario. 


V 


III 


l.j 


YELLOW-THRO.\TED   MREO. 

ViREO    FL-AVIFROXS. 

Char.  Above,  ricli  olive,  shading  to  ashy  gray  on  the  rump :  line 
across  the  forehead  and  around  the  eyes  yellow ;  throat  and  breast  rich 
yellow  ;  belly  white,  sides  shaded  with  ]iale  olive  ;  wings  dusky  with  two 
white  bars,  tail  dusky,  the  feathers  edged  with  white.  Length  5  to  6 
inches. 

JVest.  In  woods  or  orchard;  suspended  from  fork  of  branch  5  to  30 
feet  from  the  ground  (usually  about  10  feet);  a  graceful  and  compact 
structure  of  grass  and  strips  of  bark  covered  with  lichens  and  lined  with 
grass  or  pine  needles. 

/;><,'•■'■•  3~5  '  white  with  roseate  tint,  thickly  spotted  around  the  large 
end  with  shades  of  brown ;  0.80  X  0.60. 

This  species  of  Vireo,  or  Warbling  Flycatcher,  visits  the 
Middle  and  Northern  States  of  the  Union  about  the  beginning 
of  May  or  as  soon  as  his  insect  food  allows  him  a  means  of 
subsistence.  He  resides  chiefly  in  the  forests,  where  he  hunts 
his  tiny  prey  among  the  high  branches ;  and  as  he  shifts  from 
twig  to  twig  in  restless  pursuit,  he  often  relieves  his  toil  with  a 
somewhat  sad  and  indoleri  note,  which  he  repeats,  with  some 
variation,  at  short  intervals.  This  song  appears  like  ^prcca 
^prccd,  etc..  and  it  sometimes  finishes  with  a  complaining  call 


*   ' 


to  ;o 


large 

the 
ming 
ins  of 
lunts 
from 
,'ith  a 
Isome 

rail 


YELLOW-THROA'rKD    VIKEO.  175 

of  recognition,  'pr>rin)^h  '/>nrii/i;/i.  These  syllables  rise  and 
full  in  different  tones  as  they  are  repeated,  but  though  usually 
sweet  and  impressive,  are  delivered  too  slow  and  solemn  to  be 
generally  pleasing.  In  other  respects  they  consitlcrabl)  resem- 
ble the  song  of  the  Red-Kved  Warbling  Flycatcher,  in  whose 
company  it  is  often  heard,  blending  its  deep  but  languid 
warble  with  the  loud,  energetic  notes  of  the  latter  :  and  their 
united  music,  uttered  during  summer,  even  ai  noonday,  is 
rendered  peculiarly  agreeable,  as  nearly  all  the  songsters  of 
the  grove  are  now  seeking  a  silent  shelter  from  the  sultr\  heat. 
In  the  warmest  weather  the  lay  of  this  bird  is  iivk-ei!  [leculiarly 
strong  and  lively  :  and  his  usually  long-drawn,  almost  plaintive 
notes,  are  now  delivered  in  fine  succession,  with  a  peculiar 
echoing  and  impressive  musical  cadence,  apix-aring  like  a 
romantic  and  tender  revery  of  delight.  The  song,  now  almost 
incessant,  heard  from  this  roving  sylvan  minstrel  is  varied  in 
bars  nearly  as  follows:  />r,(7  />/>'ci  prcoi,  prcait  prt'iuf  f  rrji^u-rt 
pircai,  pcwai  praiou.  prctai  pirro  pnu>i/,  prcco  pn\iK-if  prrt-oo. 
^^'hen  irritated,  he  utters  a  very  loud  and  hoarse  mewing 
pnui:;It  prah^/f.  As  soon,  however,  as  the  warm  weather  begins 
to  decline,  and  the  business  of  incubation  is  finished,  about 
the  beginning  of  August,  this  sad  and  slow  but  ii\teresting 
musician  nearly  ceases  his  song,  a  few  feeble  farewell  notes 
only  being  heard  to  the  first  week  in  September. 

This  species,  like  the  rest  of  the  gentis,  constnicts  a  very 
beautiful  pendulous  nest  about  3  inches  deej^  and  2^j  in 
diameter.  One,  which  I  now  more  particularly  describe,  is 
suspended  from  the  forked  twig  of  an  oak  in  the  near  neigh- 
borhood of  a  dwelling-house  in  the  country.  It  is  attached 
firmly  all  round  the  cur\ing  t^vigs  by  which  it  is  supported  ; 
the  stoutest  external  materials  or  skeleton  of  the  fabric  is 
formed  of  interlaced  folds  of  thin  strips  of  red  cedar  bark, 
connected  very  intimately  by  coarse  threads  and  small  masses 
of  the  silk  of  spiders'  nests  and  of  the  cocoons  of  large  moths. 
These  threads  are  moistened  by  the  glutinous  saliva  of  the 
bird.  Among  these  external  materials  are  also  blended  tine 
blades  of  tlry  grass.     The  inside  is  thickly  bedtled  with  this 


.  1 


f 


H 


,1  • 


i 


it 


1/6 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


last  material  and  fine  root-fibres ;  but  the  finishing  layer,  as  if 
to  preserve  elasticity,  is  of  rather  coarse  grass-acalks.  lOxter- 
nally  the  nest  is  coated  over  with  green  lichen,  attached  very 
artfully  by  slender  strings  of  cater])illars'  silk,  and  the  whole 
afterwards  tied  over  by  almost  nivisible  threads  of  the  same,  so 
as  to  ai)])ear  as  if  glued  on;  and  the  entire  fabric  now  resem- 
bles an  accidental  knot  of  the  tree  grown  over  with  moss. 

The  food  of  this  species  during  the  summer  is  insects,  but 
towards  autumn  they  and  their  young  feed  also  on  various 
small  berries.  About  the  middle  of  Se])tember  the  whole  move 
off  and  leave  the  United  States,  probably  to  winter  in  tropical 
America. 

Xuttall  followed  the  older  authors  in  naming  the  forest  as  the 
favoritr  haunt  of  this  species.  Later  observers  consider  that  it 
freciuents  orchards  and  fields  quite  as  much  as  the  woods,  and  it  is 
reported  as  common  in  the  gardens  near  Boston. 

It  occurs  in  soutliern  New  England  and  the  Middle  .States  as 
far  wjst  as  Iowa,  and  in  .Manitoba,  where  it  is  common.  It  has 
not  been  found  in  the  Maritime  Provinces,  but  is  common  near 
Montreal  and  in  Ontario. 


BLUE-HEADED   VIREO. 

SOIITARY   VIREO. 
ViRF.O    SOLHARTUS. 

Thar.  A  'ove,  bright  olive;  line  from  nostril  to  and  around  tlie  eves 
wliitish  ;  crown  and  siiles  of  head  bluish  ash  ;  beneath,  white,  sides  and 
flanks  shaded  with  olive  and  yellow;  wings  dusky  with  two  bars  of 
vellowish  while  ;  tail  dusky,  feathers  edited  with  white.  Length  5  to  6 
inches. 

A'rsi.  .Suspended  from  fork  of  branch  of  low  tree  or  bush  ;  comj)osed 
of  grass  or  vegetable  fibre,  ornamented  with  moss  or  lichens,  lined  with 
grass  and  plant  down. 

>''XS'-f'  <^"reaniy  white,  spotted,  in  wreath  around  larger  end,  with  bright 
brown;  o.So  X  0.50. 

This  is  one  of  the  rarest  species  of  the  genus,  and  from 
(leorgia  to  Pennsylvania  seems  only  as  a  straggler  or  acci- 
dental visitor. 


Ml 


BLUE-HEADED   VIREO. 


177 


eves 

and 

lis    of 

to  6 


|)right 

from 
icci- 


h  possesses  all  the  unsuspicious  habits  of  the  genus,  allow- 
ing a  near  approach  without  alarm.  It  seldom  rises  beyond 
the  tops  of  llie  canes  or  low  bushes  amidst  which  it  is  com- 
monly seen  hopi)ing  in  quest  of  its  subsistence,  which  consists 
of  insects  and  berrits.  Its  flight  is  generally  tremulous  an<l 
agitated.  According  to  Dr.  r>achman.  "'it  is  every  year  Se- 
coming  more  abundant  in  South  Carolina,  where  it  remains 
from  about  the  middle  of  February  to  that  of  March,  keeping 
to  the  woods.  It  has  a  sweet  and  loud  song  of  half  a  dozen 
notes,  heard  at  a  considerable  distance." 

About  the  beginning  of  May,  in  the  oaks  already  almost 
wholl)  in  leaf,  on  the  banks  of  the  Columbia,  we  heard  around 
us  the  plaintive  delib'^'"  te  wm  ole  of  this  species.  fir>t  noticed 
by  Wilson.  It  so'.i,.  .^tems  to  be  intermediate  between  that  of 
the  Red-eyed  anct  \'ellow-breasted  species,  having  the  prcai, 
prcai,  etc.,  of  the  latter,  and  the  fine  variety  of  the  former  in 
its  tones.  It  darted  about  in  the  tops  of  the  trees,  incessantly 
engaged  in  quest  of  food,  now  and  then  disputing  with  some 
rival.  The  nest  of  this  bird  is  made  much  in  the  same  manner 
as  that  of  the  I'ireo  oUracfus.  One  which  I  examined  was 
suspended  from  the  forked^twig  of  the  wild  crab-tree,  at  about 
ten  feet  from  the  ground.  The  chief  materials  were  dead 
and  whitened  grass  leaves,  with  some  cobwebs  agglutinated 
together,  externally  scattered  with  a  few  shreds  of  moss 
(//i /•;//////).  to  resemble  the  branch  on  which  it  was  hung; 
here  and  there  were  also  a  few  of  the  white  paper-like  cap- 
sules of  the  spider's  nest,  and  it  was  lined  with  fine  blades  of 
grass  and  slender  root-fibres.  The  situation,  as  usual,  was 
ojjcn   but  shady. 

This  is  a  fairly  common  summer  resident  of  northern  New 
England,  and  it  breeds  sparingly  south  to  the  .Middle  States,  and 
north  to  Hudsoifs  Bay.  It  is  a  rare  bird  in  the  Maritime  Prov- 
inces and  in  Quebec,  though  common  in  parts  of  Ontario. 


XoTi:. — Tlie  Mountain  Solitarv  \'\\KV.ct{\\  solitarins  alti- 
cola).  lately  discovered  by  .Mr.  William  Brewster  in  western  North 
Carolina,  is  described  as  "nearly  uniform  blackish  plumbeous,  with 
onlv  a  faint  tinge  of  green  on  the  back." 
vol..  I.  —  VI 


In 


I 


fi 


^ 


m 


WHrrE-EYFJ)   VIREO. 

ViRKO    NOVEI50RACF.NSIS. 

(-'har.  Above,  olive,  shading  to  ash  on  hind  neck  and  rump;  line 
from  nostril  to  and  around  eyes,  yellow  ;  beneath,  white,  duller  on  throat 
and  breast;  sides  shaded  with  yellow;  wings  and  tail  dusky;  wing-bars 
yellow  ;  iris  whits.-  In  the  adult,     l.ength  about  5  inches. 

A'c'st,  Suspended  from  forked  twig  of  low  bush  in  a  thicket,  some- 
times on  edge  of  swamp;  C(jmposed  of  various  materials,  — grass,  twigs, 
etc.,  —  ornamented  with  muss  and  lichens,  and  lined  with  grass,  etc. 

£^''^'s.    3-5  ;  white,  spcjtted  around  larger  end  with  brown  ;  0.75  X  0.55. 

This  interesting  little  bird  appears  to  be  a  constant  resident 
within  the  limits  of  the  United  States;  as,  on  the  12th  of  Jan- 
uary, I  saw  them  in  great  ninnbers  near  Charleston,  S.  C, 
feeding  on  the  wax-myrtle  berries,  in  company  with  the  Ycllow- 
Rimiped  Sylvias.  At  this  season  they  were  silent,  btit  very 
familiar,  tlescenfling  from  the  bttshes  when  whistled  too,  and 
peeping  cautiously,  came  down  close  to  me,  looking  about  with 
complacent  curiosity,  as  if  unconscious  of  any  danger.  In  the 
last  week  of  February,  Wilson  already  heard  thcui  singing  in 
the  southern  parts  of  (leorgia,  and  throughout  that  month  to 
March,  I  saw  them  in  the  swampy  thickets  nearly  every  day, 
so  that  they  undoubtedly  reside  and  pass  the  winter  in  the 
maritime  parts  of  the  Southern  States.  The  arrival  of  this 
little  unsuspicious  warbler  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  England 
is  usually  about  the  middle  of  April  or  earlier.  On  the  12th 
of  March  I  first  heard  his  voice  in  the  low  thickets  of  West 
Florida.  His  ditty  was  now  simply  ss'/  (with  a  whistle)  7C'd 
witte  7ottte  7i.<'e-wd  (the  first  part  very  quick).  As  late  as  in 
the  first  week  in  May  I  observed  a  few  stragglers  in  this  vicinity 


m\ 


WIinE-LVElJ    \  IKEO. 


»7y 


peeping  through  the  bushes  :  and  in  the  latter  end  of  the 
niunth  a  jniir  had  taken  up  their  abode  in  the  thickets  of 
l-resii  Fond,  so  that  those  which  first  arrive  leave  us  and  pro- 
ceed farther  to  the  north.  On  the  2 2d  of  June  I  heard  the 
male  in  full  song,  near  his  nest  in  our  neighborhood,  where  in- 
(  ubation  was  going  on.  His  warble  was  very  pleasing,  though 
scjmewhat  monotonous  and  whimsical,  'i'his  affectionate  note, 
often  repeated  near  to  his  faitliful  mate  while  confined  to 
her  nest,  was  like  '/s/ri//^rTOfc-7L'(i-si7y,  tshippt-ii'ee-ivte-H'as-say, 
sweetly  whistled,  and  with  a  greater  comi)ass  of  voice  and 
loudness  than  might  have  been  expected  from  the  size  of  the 
little  vocalist.  'l"he  song  is  sometimes  changed  two  or  three 
times  in  the  course  of  twenty  minutes ;  and  1  have  heard  the 
following  phrases  :  '<///  tshippmHit  '■ii.'urr,  tshippez^at  'tvurr :  at 
another  time,  '/s/i/pncuy  '/she  o  ct  'tsherr.  On  another  visit 
the  little  performer  had  changed  his  song  to  '///  ti  7cai:;h  «.• 
tshewa,  with  a  guttural  trill,  as  usual,  at  the  last  syllable.  He 
soon,  however,  varied  his  lay  to  'whip  te  wo'i  wee,  the  last  sylla- 
ble but  one  considerably  lengthened  and  clearly  whistled.  Such 
were  the  captious  variations  of  this  little  quaint  and  peculiarly 
earnest  musician,  whose  notes  are  probably  almost  continually 
varied.  On  the  6th  of  October  I  still  heard  one  of  these  wan- 
dering little  minstrels,  who  at  intervals  had  for  several  weeks 
visited  the  garden,  probably  in  quest  of  berries.  His  short, 
(juaint,  and  more  guttural  song  was  now  atshie-ia'it  (probably 
the  attempt  of  a  young  bird).  As  late  as  the  30th  of  October 
the  White-l'>yed  \'ireo  still  lingered  around  Cambridge,  and 
on  the  margin  of  a  ]:)ond,  surrounded  by  weeds  and  willows,  he 
was  actively  employed  in  gleaning  up  insects  and  their  larA'ae ; 
and  now,  with  a  feebler  tone  of  voice,  warbled  with  uncommon 
sweetness  wholly  different  from  his  usual  strain,  sounding  some- 
thing like  the  sweet  whisperings  of  the  Song  Sparrow  at  the 
present  season,  and  was  perhaps  an  attempt  at  mimickry. 
Occasionally,  also,  he  blended  in  his  harsher,  scolding,  or 
querulous  mewing  call. 

This  species,  like  the  rest,  build  commonly  a  pensile  nest 
suspended  by  the  upper  edge  of  the  two  sides  on  the  circular 


I'i 


I' 


%\ 


M     ,. 


■iv  J  " 


iiitii" 


I  So 


SINGING    lURDS. 


benil.  often  of  the  smilax  or  green  briar  vine.  In  the  Miflrlle 
States  they  often  raise  2  brootls  in  the  season,  generally  make 
choice  of  thorny  thickets  for  their  nest,  and  show  much  con- 
cern when  it  is  aiJi)roached,  descending  within  a  few  feet  of 
the  intruder,  looking  down  and  hoarsely  mewing  and  scolding 
with  great  earnestness.  This  [petulant  display  of  irritability  is 
also  continued  when  the  brood  are  a] )proached,  though  as  large 
and  as  active  as  their  vigilant  antl  vociferous  parents.  In  the 
Middle  States  this  is  a  common  si)ecies,  but  in  Massachusetts 
rather  rare.  Its  food,  like  the  rest  of  the  Vireos.  is  insects 
and  vir  >  kinds  of  berries,  for  the  former  of  which  it  hunts 
with  _:  j;jlity.  attention,  and  industry. 

•'  Eastern  United  States,  west  to  the  Rockies,  south  in  winter  to 
(iuaiemala,''  is  usually  given  as  the  habitat  of  this  species.  It  ha.s 
been  seen  rarely  north  of  southern  New  England,  and  only  one 
example  has  been  taken  in  New  lirunswick,  though  Mr.  J.  M. 
Jones  considers  it  fairly  common  in  portions  of  Nova  Scotia. 
There  is  no  authentic  report  of  its  occurrence  in  Ontario,  but  Mr. 
McIIwraiih  thinks  it  may  yet  be  found  there. 


Note. —  Mr.  William  Brewster  lias  lately  described  the  Kr:v 
West  X'iikeo  (  K  nai'iiwrdcensis  luaynardi)  as  a  larger  bird  than 
the  type  and  of  duller  color,  the  yellow  paler. 

Bf:[.i,'>  Vireo  (  Virco  f'cllii).  a  bird  of  much  the  same  appearance 
and  habits  as  the  White-eyed,  is  found  in  the  prairie  districts  of 


Illinois  and  Iowa. 
Rockica. 


It  ranges  thence  to  the  eastern  base  ot   the 


\ 


WARBLING   VIREO. 

^'^^F,0    GILVUS. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  olive  brighter  on  the  rump,  shading  to  ashv  on 
the  hfjad;  beneath,  buffy  white,  flanks  and  sides  tinged  with  oHve  yellow. 
Length  5  to  5/2  inches. 

.\c'j/  In  open  pasture  or  shaded  street,  suspended  from  fork  of  a 
high  branch;  composed  of  grass  and  vegetable  fibre,  and  lined  with  fine 
grxss. 

■^aS'''-  3~4;  white,  spotted,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end,  with  brown; 
075  X  o  55. 


thv  on 
lellow. 

of  a 
ih  fine 

rown ; 


WARIJLING    VIREO. 


iSl 


This  sweetest  and  most  constant  warbler  of  the  forest,  ex- 
tending his  northern  migrations  to  the  confines  of  Canada  and 
aloi.g  the  coast  of  the  Pacific  to  the  (Jrcgon.  arrives  from  trop- 
ical America  in  Pennsylvania  about  the  middle  of  April,  and 
reaches  this  part  of  New  Lngiand  early  in  May.  His  livery, 
like  that  of  the  Nightingale,  is  plain  and  unadorned;  but  the 
sweet  melody  of  his  voice,  —  surpassing,  as  far  as  Nature  usually 
surpasses  art,  the  tenderest  airs  of  the  thite,  —  jKJured  out  often 
from  the  rising  dawn  of  day  to  the  a])i)roach  of  evenmg.  and 
vigorous  even  during  the  sultry  heat  of  noon,  when  most  other 
birds  are  still,  gives  additional  interest  to  this  little  vocalist. 
While  chanting  fortli  his  easy,  flowing,  tender  airs,  apparently 
without  effort,  so  contrasted  with  the  interrupted  emphatical 
song  of  the  Red-Eye,  he  is  gliding  along  the  thick  and  leafy 
branches  of  our  majestic  elms  and  tallest  trees  busied  in  quest 
of  his  restless  insect  prey.  With  us,  as  in  Pennsylvania,  the 
s])ecies  is  almost  wholly  confined  to  our  villages,  and  even 
cities.  It  is  rarely  ever  observed  in  the  woods  :  but  from  the 
tall  trees  which  decorate  the  streets  and  lanes,  the  almost  in- 
visible musician,  secured  from  the  enemies  of  the  forest,  is 
heard  to  cheer  the  house  and  cottage  with  his  untiring  song. 
As  late  as  the  2d  of  October  I  still  distinguished  his  tuneful  voice 
from  amidst  the  yellow  fading  leaves  of  the  linflen.  near  which 
he  had  passed  away  the  summer.  The  approaching  flissolu- 
tion  of  those  delightful  connections  which  had  been  cemented 
by  affection  and  the  cheerless  stillness  of  autumn,  still  called 
up  a  feeble  and  plaintive  revery.  Some  days  after  this  late 
l^eriod,  warmed  by  the  mild  rays  of  the  morning  sun,  I  heard, 
as  it  were,  faintly  warbled,  a  parting  whisjier :  and  about  the 
middle  of  this  month  our  vocal  woods  and  fields  were  once 
more  left  in  dreary  silence. 

When  offended  or  irritated,  our  bird  utters  an  angry  7j-//<7V 
^fs/iay,  like  the  Catbird  and  the  other  Vireos.  and  sometimes 
makes  a  loud  snapping  with  his  bill.  The  nest  of  the  Warbling 
Vireo  is  generally  pendulous,  and  ambitiously  and  securely  sus- 
pended at  great  elevations.  In  our  elms  I  have  seen  one  of 
these  airy  cradles  at  the  very  summit  of  one  of  the  most  gigan- 


1 82 


SINGINO    IHKDS. 


I  ' 


J 


/ 


tic.  more  than  loo  feet  from  the  grouinl.  At  other  times  they 
are  not  more  tlian  50  to  70  feet  liigh.  '1  he  only  nest  I  have 
been  able  to  examine  was  made  externally  of  flat  and  dry 
scdiie-grass  blades,  for  which,  as  I  have  observed,  are  occa- 
sionally substituted  strings  of  bass.  These  dry  blades  and 
»trij)s  are  confined  and  tied  into  the  usual  circular  form  by 
caterpillars'  silk,  blended  with  bits  of  wool,  silk-weed  lint,  and 
an  accidental  and  sparing  mixture  of  vernal  grass  tops  and  old 
apple-blossoms.  It  was  then  very  neatly  lined  with  the  small 
flat  blades  of  the  meadow  grass  called  Poa  compirssa. 

This  species  is  rather  uiicomnioii  in  the  Maritime  Provinces 
exct-ptini;  near  the  Maine  border  in  Xc-w  lirunswiek,  and  in  the 
more  >outhL'rn  portions  of  Xova  Scotia.  It  is  fairly  coniinon  in 
southern  Quebec,  and  abundant  in  Ontario.  In  parts  of  Xew 
England  and  the  Middle  .States  it  is  a  common  summer  resident. 
At  the  West  it  ranges  north  to  the  fur  countries. 


Hi  n 


RFd)  EYED    VIRKO. 

ViRF.O    Ol.IVACF.US. 

Char.  Above,  bright  olive,  crown  ashy;  white  line  over  eyes ;  iris 
niby  red  ;  beneath,  wiiite  faintly  tinged  with  dull  olive  on  sides;  wings 
and  tail  dusky.     Leiigth  5'i  to  6)2  inches. 

Xist.  In  an  open  pasture  or  along  margin  of  field  ;  suspended  from 
fork  of  an  upper  branch  ;  composed  of  grass  and  vegetable  fibre,  and 
lined  with  fine  grass,  etc. 

Ez;s-  3-5  ;  white  (sometimes  with  a  faint  pink  tint)  spotted  sparingly, 
around  larger  end.  with  dull  brown  ;  o  So  X  0.55. 

These  common  antl  indefatigable  songsters  appear  to  inhabit 
even.'  part  of  the  American  continent,  from  Labrador  to  the 
large  tropical  islands  of  Jamaica  and  St.  Domingo  ;  thev  are 
likewise  resident  in  the  mild  tableland  of  Mexico.  Those 
individuals  who  pass  the  summer  with  us,  however,  migrate  to 
the  warmer  regions  at  the  commencement  of  winter,  as  none 
are  found  at  that  season  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States. 
The  Red-Eyed  Vireo  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  late  in  .April,  and 
in  New  England  about  the  beginning  of  May.     It  inhabits  the 


RED-EVLD   VIKLO. 


I '^3 


5 ;  ins 
wings 

from 
vv,  and 


iringly, 

Inh.ibit 
to  the 

lev  are 
Those 
i-ate  to 
none 
states, 
|U  and 
Its  the 


shaily   forests  or  tall   trcL->  near  garden>  and  the  sul)url)>  ol 
villages,  where  its  loud,  lively,  and  energetic  song  is  oflen  con- 
tinued, with  little  intermission,  for  several  hours  at  a  time,  as 
it  darts  and  jiries  among  the  thick  foliage  m  (juest  of  injects 
and  small  caterpillars.      From  its  first  arrival  until  Augus'  it  is 
the  most  distinguisheil  warbler  of  the  forest,  and  when  almost 
all  the  other  birds  have  become  mute,  its  notes  are  yet  heard 
with  unabated  vigor,     liven  to  the  5th  of  October,  still  enliv- 
ened by  the  feeble  rays  of  the  sun,  the  male  faintly  recalls  his 
song,  and  plaintively  tunes*  a  farewell  to  his  native  woods.    11  ii 
summer  notes  are   uttered  in  short,  emphatical  bars  of  2  or  _^ 
syllables,  and  have  something  in  them  like  the  simple  lay  of 
the    Thrush   on  American   Robin  when  he  first  earnestly  and 
slowly  cummences  his  song.      He  often  makes  use,  in  fact,  of 
the  same  expTessions  ;   but  his  tones  are  more  monotonous  as 
well  as  mellow  and  melodious,  like  the  rest  of  the  Vire(js.     In 
moist   and  dark  summer  weather  his  voice  seems  to  be  one 
continued,  untiring  warble  of  exquisite  sweetness  ;  and  in  the 
most  populous  and  noisy  streets  of  Doston  his  shrill  and  tender 
lay  is  commonly  heard  from  the  tall  elms  ;  and  as  the  bustle  of 
carts  and  carriages  attempts  to  drown  his  voice,  he  elevates  his 
pipe  with  more  \igor  an<l  earnestness,  as  if  determined  to  be 
heard  in   spite   of  every  discord.      The  call  of  "  JI7///>-T(>»/- 
Xv7/r,"  attributed  to  this  species  by  Sloane  and  even  Wilson,  I 
have  never  heard  ;   and  common  as  the  species  is  throughout 
the  Union,    the   most   lively  or  accidental   fit  of  imagination 
never  yet  in  this  count. y  conceived  of  such  an  association  of 
sounds.     I  have  already  remarked,  indeed,  that  this  singular 
call   is,  in   fact,  sometimes   uttered   by  the  Tufted  Titmouse. 
When  our  Vireo  sings  slow  enough  to  be  distinctly  heard,  the 
following  sweetly  \\arbled  phrases,   variously    transposed    and 
tuned,  mav  often  be  caught  bv  the  attentive  listener :   't.<hooe 
pcwee peea'i  mus'ik  \hi  \iii  \iu,  '' tshoovc  ''here  'hire,  hear  here, 
'k^ina^  ^ritshani,  'fslie^^ru  'tshevUy  'isheevoo  'fshinre  peea'i f  'pero'i, 
—  the  whole  delivered  almost  without  any  sensible  internal,  with 
earnest  animation,  in   a   ]xathetic,  tender,  and  pleasing  strain, 
well  calculated  to  produce  calm  and  thoughtful  reflection  in 


ill 


i 
I 

( 

* 

L 

1 84 


SINGINd    lUKDS. 


\l 


i\ 


m 


the  sensitive  mind.  Yet  while  this  heavenly  reven*  strikes  on 
tile  human  ear  with  su<  h  peculiar  tfkc  t,  the  humble  musician 
himself"  sctins  but  little  concerned;  lor  all  the  while,  i)erha|)s, 
that  this  Mowing  <  hurus  enchants  the  hearer,  he  is  casually 
hopping  from  spray  to  spray  in  c|uest  of  his  active  or  crawlmg 
prey,  and  if  a  cessation  occurs  in  his  almost  untiring  lay,  it  is 
occasioned  by  the  caterpillar  or  tly  he  has  just  fortunately  cap- 
tured. So  unaffected  are  these  delightful  etforts  of  instinct, 
and  so  unconscious  is  the  performer,  apparently,  of  this  pleas- 
ing faculty  bestowed  upon  him  by  Nature,  that  he  may  truly  be 
considereil  as  a  messenger  of  harmony  to  man  a/onc.  Wan 
tonly  to  destroy  these  delightful  aids  to  sentimental  happiness 
ought  therefore  to  be  viewed,  not  only  as  an  act  of  barbarity, 
but  almost  as  a  sacrilege. 

The  Red-Eyed  Vireo  is  one  of  the  most  favorite  of  all  the 
adopted  nurses  of  the  Cowbird  ;  and  the  remarkable  gentle- 
ness of  its  disposition  and  watt  hful  affection  for  the  safety  of 
its  young,  or  of  the  foundling  confided  to  its  care,  amply  justi- 
fies this  selection  of  a  foster-parent.  The  male,  indeed,  de- 
fends his  nest  while  his  mate  is  sitting,  with  as  much  spirit  as 
the  King  Bird,  driving  away  every  intnider  anrl  complaining  in 
a  hfjarse  mewing  tone  when  approached  by  any  imjuisitive 
obser\er.  By  accident  the  eggs  were  destroyed  in  a  nest  of 
this  species  in  the  Botanic  (larden,  in  a  sugar-maple  about  20 
feet  from  the  ground.  At  this  time  no  complaints  were  heard. 
and  the  male  sang  all  day  as  cheerful  as  before.  In  a  few 
days,  unwilling  to  leave  the  neighlxjrhood,  they  had  made  a 
second  nest  in  a  beech  at  the  opposite  side  of  the  same  prem- 
ises ;  but  now  the  male  drove  away  ever\'  intnider  with  the 
greatest  temerity.  The  young  of  this  species  are  often  hatched 
in  about  13  days,  or  24  hours  later  than  the  parasitic  Troopial ; 
but  for  want  of  room  the  smaller  young  are  usually  stilled  or 
neglected.  I  have,  however,  seen  in  one  nest  a  sur\iving  bird 
of  each  kind  in  a  fair  way  for  being  reared ;  yet  by  a  singular 
infatuation  the  supposititious  bird  appeared  by  far  the  most 
assiduously  attended,  and  in  this  case  the  real  yomig  of  the 
species  seemed  to  be  treated  as  puny  foundlings. 


RED-LVLl)    VIKLU. 


liiS 


itive 
St  of 
It  20 
anl. 
few 
e  a 
rcni- 
the 
died 
■)ial ; 
(]  or 
bird 
jular 
most 
f  the 


In  the  month  of  August  the  yoiuiL;  fed  greedily  on  the  small 
berries  of  the  bitter  cornel  and  astringent  l'i/>iirnum  (/«/'/<///////, 
as  well  as  other  kinds.  One  of  these  inexperienced  binls 
hojiped  cK)se  roumi  me  in  an  adjoining  bu^h.  without  any  fear- 
ful apprehension  :  and  as  late  as  the  2U\\\  of  October  two 
young  binls  of  the  Retl-l^ye  were  still  hngering  in  thi-.  vicinity, 
and  busily  engageil  in  gleaning  subsi^tein  e.  I'.ager  after  llies, 
about  the  J 5th  of  August  a  young  bin!  with  ha/el  inslea»l  of 
retl  eyes  entered  a  chamber  in  the  neighborhootl  and  became 
my  inmate.  I  clipped  iiis  wing  and  left  him  at  lar^u  in  a 
room;  he  soon  became  very  gentle,  took  grasshopper-,  and 
tiles  out  of  my  hand,  eat  I'il'tinmm  berries  with  a  good  aj)i)e- 
tite,  and  in  short  seemed  pleasetl  with  his  quarter>.  A  lly 
could  not  stir  but  it  was  instantly  caught  ;  hi>  only  difficulty 
was  with  a  lame  King  llird  who  occupied  the  same  a|)ariment. 
'ITie  King  aiJjKMred  very  jealous  of  this  little  harmless  <  om- 
panion  :  snapped  his  bill  at  him  when  he  '^pproachetl,  and  be- 
grudged him  subsistence  when  he  perceived  that  he  fed  on  the 
same  food  with  himself.  At  length  he  would  come  to  me  for 
provision  and  for  protection  from  his  tyrannical  associate.  Hut 
the  career  of  my  interesting  and  lively  companion  was  soon 
terminated  by  death,  occasioned,  in  all  probability,  by  a  diar- 
rh(ea  produced  in  conseipience  of  swallowing  a  small  lock  of 
hair  with  his  food,  which  was  foimd  in  his  stomach.  This  bird, 
very  dillerent  from  a  Sylvia  aiitunnuilis  which  I  afterwanls  had 
in  my  possession,  regurgitated  by  the  bill,  like  the  King  Bird, 
pellets  of  the  indigestible  j)arts  of  his  food,  such  as  the  legs 
and  wings  of  grasshoi)i)ers  and  tlies,  and  the  skins  and  seeds  of 
berries.  Unlike  the  King  IJirtl  in  one  particular,  however,  he 
folded  his  head  under  his  wing  when  at  rest,  and  reposed  with 
great  soundness  ;  whereas  for  eight  months  I  was  never  able  to 
detect  the  former  asleep. 

The  Red-eyed  Vireo  breeds  from  the  Southern  States  t« 
L-abrador  and  Manitoba,  and  in  winter  ranges  from  Florida  t' 
Central  America. 


11 


II 


i  f 


It^:  Pl 


t 


1 86  SINGLNO    BIRDS. 

PHII-ADELPHIA    VIREO. 

VlREO     I'HILADELFHICUS. 

CHAK.  Above,  grayish  olive,  lirightcr  on  runi]),  shading  to  as!:y  on 
crown;  white  line  .eicyes;  beneath,  greenish  yellow,  paler  on  throat 
and  belly.     1-ength  about  4'/  inches. 

jVis/.  In  u  grove  ;  suspended  fioni  forked  twigs  of  low  branch  ;  com- 
posed of  grass  and  birch  bark. 

/ii^^'-s.     4 — ?;  white,  spotted  with  brown  ; ? 

This  species  was  first  described  by  Mr.  Cassin,  in  1851.  from  a 
specimen  shot  by  liim  near  JMiiladelphia  in  1842.  Of  the  liird's 
liabits  we  have  learned  but  little.  The  only  nest  yet  discovered 
was  found  by  r\ir.  Ernest  E.  'Ihomp.son  in  Manitoba  in  1S84. 

Of  the  bird's  ran^je  we  liave  still  much  to  learn.  It  is  a  migrant 
only  in  southern  New  En<jland,  but  is  known  to  spend  the  summer 
in  .Maine,  and  has  been  taken  at  that  season  in  New  Hampshire. 
In  1882  our  party  secured  several  at  Edmundston,  in  \ew  liruns- 
wick.  near  the  Quebec  border.  Dr.  W'lieaton  considered  it  a  regu- 
lar s])i  ing  and  fall  mia;rant  through  Ohio,  but  very  few  have  been 
observed  in  Ontario. 

The  song  of  th.is  species  is  so  much  like  that  of  the  Red-eye, 
that  they  are  :  .>t  easily  distinguished. 


Note.  —  Mr.  Co-neau  has  t:  ken  at  Godbout.  on  the  north  shore 
of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  one  example  of  the  YEi.LOW-CiKEEN 
\'iKEO  {V.Jlavoviridis)^  a  bird  of  Mexico  and  Central  .^Vmerica. 


•  r 


i 


i' 


MOCKINGEIkD. 


C'liAR.     Above,  ashy  grav,  darker  ■ 
white  bars  ;  outer  tail-teatlur>  whirc  ;  '■ 
the  breast  ;  bill  and  feet  black.     Length  ■.  - 

-Wv.     In  a  thicket  or  bunch  of  low  '   . 
grass,  etc. 

£i,:i,'s.     4-6;  greenish  blue  to  pale  bur" 
0.95  X  0.70. 


and  tail  :  wings  with  two 
■«hht.  tinged  witli  gray  nn 

.  t -imposed  of  twigs,  roots, 

••    d  with  reddish  brown  ; 


--.  :  nd  natural  wonder  of 
n'r  in  the  State  of  Rhode 


'J'his  unrivalled  Orphetis  of  the  fi.- 
Anicrica  inhabits  the  whole  continc-rir. 
Island  to  the  larger  isles  of  the  Wc-^t  Indjf s ;  and  continuing 
through  the  equatorial  regions,  is  t';  .'  "  t  the  southern  hemi- 
s])here  as  far  as  IJra/.il.  Nor  is  it  at  i..  "  .ijfintd  to  the  Eastern 
or  Atlantic  States.  It  also  exists  ini  ttiae  wild  territory'  of  Ar- 
kansas more  than  a  thousand  mile?  j&om  the  mouth  of  Red 
River;  and  I  have  since  seen  it  ir.  t  .  ^c'lnty  forests  of  l'])j)er 
California.  It  breeds  at  the  distinc  nr^tem  sources  of  the 
riatte,  near  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Moiantains,  as  well  as  in 
Texas;  and  Mr.  I'ullock  saw  it  in  ■'••  t^Me-land  of  Mexico. 
The  Mocking  I'ird  rears  its  yotms.  risequently  displays 

its  wonderful  powers,  in  all  the  inni-nnardiate  regions  of  its 
residence  in  the  United  States  to  the  p.eiiuinsula  of  Florida.  It 
appears,  in  short,  ])erinanently  to  m'-   '^''.  *>he  milder  regions  of 


i88 


SINGING    BIRDS. 


f! 


T,,|j 


III'- 

I  i 


the  western  workl  in  cither  hemisphere  ;  and  the  individuals 
bred  north  of  the  Delaware,  on  this  side  the  equator,  are  all 
that  ever  migrate  from  their  summer  residence.  A  still  more 
partial  migration  takes  place  also,  jjrobably,  from  west  to  east, 
in  quest  of  the  food  and  shelter  which  the  maritime  districts 
afford.  Though  now  so  uncommon  in  that  vicinity,  50  or  60 
years  ago,  according  to  IJartram,  it  even  wintered  near  i'hila- 
delphia,  and  made  a  temporary  abode  in  the  mantling  i\y  of 
his  venerable  mansion.  In  summer  a  few  proceed  as  far  as 
Rhode  Island,  following  the  mild  temperature  of  the  sea-coast ; 
but  farther  north  these  birds  are,  I  believe,  nearly  unknown, 
except  rarely  and  occasionally  in  Massachusetts  near  the  sea. 
With  the  advance  of  the  season,  also,  in  the  country  which  it 
inhabits,  varies  the  time  of  incubation.  Early  in  April  the 
nests  are  begun  in  the  maritime  parts  of  Georgia,  but  not  before 
the  middle  of  May  in  Pennsylvania. 

In  the  winter  these  birds  chieOy  subsist  on  berries,  partic- 
ularly those  of  the  Virginia  juniper  (called  red  cedar),  wax- 
myrtle,  holly,  smilax,  sumach,  sour-gum,  and  a  variety  of 
others,  which  furnish  them  and  many  other  birds  with  a  plen- 
tiful repast.  Insects,  worms,  grasshoppers,  and  larvas  arc  the 
food  on  which  they  princijially  subsist  when  so  eminently  vocal 
and  engaged  in  the  task  of  rearing  their  young.  In  the  South- 
ern States,  where  they  are  seldom  molested,  with  ready  saga- 
city they  seem  to  court  the  society  of  man  and  fearlessly  ho]) 
around  the  roof  of  the  house  or  tly  before  the  planter's  door. 
When  a  dwelling  is  first  settled  in  the  wilderness,  this  bird  is 
not  seen  sometimes  in  the  vicinity  for  the  first  year  ;  but  at 
length  he  pays  his  welcome  visit  to  the  new-comer,  gratified 
with  the  little  advantages  he  discovers  around  him.  and  seek- 
ing out  also  the  Hivor  and  fortuitous  protection  of  human 
society.  He  becomes  henceforth  familiar,  and  only  quarrels 
with  the  cat  and  dog,  whose  approach  he  instinctively  dreads 
near  his  ncst,;ind  never  ceases  his  complaints  and  attacks  until 
they  retreat  \\\nn  liis  siglit. 

None  of  the  domestic  animals,  or  man  himself,  but  partic- 
ularly the  cat  and  dog,  can  approach  during  the  period  of 
incubation,  without  receiving  .m  atta(  k  from  these  aiTectionate 


ii 


al 
1- 

;t- 

"P 
)r. 

is 
at 
.■<1 

ik- 
an 

k-ls 


\c- 
..f 


MOCKIXGBIRl). 


189 


guardians  of  their  brood.  Their  most  insidious  and  deadly 
enemies,  however,  are  reptiles,  particularly  the  black  snake, 
who  sjxares  neither  the  eggs  nor  young.  .\s  soon  as  his  fatal 
api)roach  is  (Hscovered  by  the  male,  he  darts  upon  him  without 
hesitation,  eludes  his  bite^  and  striking  him  about  the  head, 
and  particularly  the  eyes,  where  most  vulnerable,  he  soon  suc- 
ceeds in  causing  him  to  retreat,  and  by  redoubling  his  blows, 
in  s])ite  of  all  pretended  fascination,  the  wily  nioii>ter  often 
falls  a  victim  to  his  temerity  ;  and  the  heroic  bird,  leaving  his 
enemy  dead  on  the  field  he  provoked,  mounta  on  the  bush 
above  his  affectionate  mate  and  brood,  and  in  token  of  victory 
celebrates  with  hi^T  loude.?t  song. 

'1  he  Mocking  IJird,  like  the  Nightingale,  is  destitute  of  bril- 
liant plumage  ;  but  his  form  is  beautiful,  delicate,  and  symmet- 
rical in  its  proportions.  His  motions  are  easy,  ra[)id,  and 
graceful,  perpetually  animated  with  a  playful  caprice  and  a 
look  that  appears  full  of  shrewdness  and  intelligence.  He 
listens  with  silent  attention  to  each  passing  sounil,  treasures  up 
lessons  from  everything  vocal,  and  is  capable  of  imitating  with 
exa<  tness,  both  in  measure  and  accent,  the  notes  of  all  the 
feathered  rare.  And  however  wild  and  discordant  the  tones 
and  calls  may  be.  he  contrives,  with  an  Orphean  talent  jk-cu- 
liarly  his  own,  to  infuse  into  them  that  sweetness  of  expression 
and  harmonious  modulation  which  characterize  this  inimi- 
tal)le  and  wonderful  composer.  With  the  dawn  of  morning, 
while  yet  the  sun  lingers  below  the  blushing  horizon,  our  sub- 
lime songster,  in  his  native  wilds,  mounted  on  the  topmost 
branch  of  a  tall  bush  or  tree  in  the  forest,  pours  out  his  admi- 
rable song,  which,  amidst  the  multitude  of  notes  from  all  the 
warbling  host,  stiil  rises  pre-eminent,  so  that  his  solo  is  heani 
alone,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  musical  choir  apjtear  emjiloyed  in 
mete  accompaniments  to  this  grand  actor  in  the  sublime  opera 
of  Nature.  Nor  is  his  talent  confined  to  imitation  ;  his  native 
note--  are  also  bold,  full,  and  perjjetually  varied,  consisting  of 
short  expressions  of  a  few  variable  syllables,  interspersed  with 
imitations  and  uttered  with  great  emphasis  and  volubility, 
sometimes  for  half  an  hour  at  a  time,  with  undiminished  ardor. 
These  native  strains  bear  a  considerable  resemblance  to  those 


In 

t.i 


H\ 


u 


! 


190 


SINc;iN(i    HIKDS. 


li. 


1!^ 


\m- 


of  the  Drown  'riirush,  to  whom  he  is  so  nearly  related  m  form, 
habits,  and  manners ;  but.  like  rude  from  cultivated  genius,  his 
notes  are  distinguished  by  the  ra])idity  of  their  delivery,  their 
\ariety,  sweetness,  and  energy.  As  if  conscious  of  his  unri- 
valled |)owers  of  song,  and  animated  by  the  harmony  of  his 
own  voice,  his  music  is,  as  it  were,  accompanied  by  chromatic 
dancing  and  expressive  gestures;  he  spreads  and  closes  his 
light  anil  fanning  wings,  exjjands  his  silver  1  tail,  and  with 
buoyant  gayety  and  enthusiastic  ecstasy  he  s\;,.?ps  around,  and 
mounts  and  descends  into  the  air  from  his  lofty  spray  as  his 
song  swells  to  loudness  or  dies  away  in  sinking  whispers. 
While  thus  engaged,  so  various  is  his  talent  that  it  might  be 
supposed  a  trial  of  skill  from  all  the  assembled  birds  of  the 
country ;  and  so  jjcrfect  are  his  imitations  that  e\'en  the 
sj)ortsman  is  at  times  deceived,  and  sent  in  ipiest  of  birds  that 
have  no  existence  around  him.  The  feathered  tribes  them- 
sehes  are  decoyed  by  the  fancied  call  of  their  mates,  or  dive 
with  fear  into  the  close  thicket  at  the  well-feigned  scream  of 
the  Hawk. 

Soon  reconcileil  to  the  usurping  fancy  of  man,  the  Mocking 
IHrd  often  becomes  familiar  with  his  master;  ])layfully  attacks 
him  through  the  bars  of  his  cage,  or  at  large  in  a  room  :  rest- 
less and  capricious,  he  seems  to  try  every  exi)edient  of  a  lively 
imagination  that  may  conduce  to  his  amusement.  Nothing 
escapes  his  discerning  and  intelligent  eye  or  faithful  ear.  Me 
whistles  perhaps  for  the  dog.  who,  deceived,  runs  to  meet  his 
master  ;  the  cries  of  the  chicken  in  distress  bring  out  the 
clucking  mother  to  the  protection  of  her  brood.  The  l)arking 
of  the  dog,  the  piteous  wailing  of  the  puppy,  the  mewing  of 
the  cat,  the  action  of  a  saw,  or  the  creaking  of  a  wheelbarrow, 
(|uickly  follow  with  exactness.  He  repeats  a  tune  of  consider- 
able length  ;  imitates  the  warbling  of  the  C'anary,  the  lisj)ing 
of  the  Indigo  Bird,  and  the  mellow  whistU-  of  the  Cardinal,  in 
a  manner  so  sui)erior  to  the  originals  that,  mortified  and  aston- 
islied,  they  withdraw  from  his  presence,  or  listen  in  silence  as 
he  continues  tt)  tr" 


n> 


■ing 


In  the  cage  also,  nearly  as  in  the  woods,  he  is  full  of  life  and 
action  while  engaged  in  song,  throwing  himself  round  with  in- 


1 

1 

I   ■;■■     i 

1 

L 

MOCKINGBIRD. 


Ujl 


of 

er- 

".^ 
ill 

m- 
as 

ind 

111- 


s|)iring  animation,  and,  as  it  were,  moving  in  time  to  the  meKnly 
of  his  own  accents.  I'.ven  the  hours  of  night,  which  consign 
nearly  all  other  birds  to  rest  and  silence,  like  the  Nightingale 
he  oft  emphjys  in  song,  serenading  the  houseless  hunter  and 
silent  cottager  to  repose,  as  the  rising  moon  illumines  the 
darkness  of  the  shadowy  scene.  His  capricious  fondness  for 
contrast  and  perpetual  variety  appears  to  deteritjrate  Wis  pt)w- 
ers.  His  imitations  of  the  Ijrown  Thrush  are  perhaps  inter- 
rupted by  the  crowing  of  the  cock  or  the  barking  of  the  dog  ; 
the  plaintive  warblings  of  the  Ijiuebird  are  then  blended  with 
the  chatter  of  the  Swallow  or  the  cackling  of  the  hen  :  amid 
the  simple  lay  of  the  native  Robin  we  are  surprised  with  the 
vociferations  of  the  Whip-poor-will ;  while  the  notes  of  the 
garrulous  Jay.  Wren,  and  many  others  succeed  with  ^uch  an 
apj)earance  of  reality  that  we  almost  imagine  ourselves  in  the 
presence  of  the  originals,  and  can  scarcely  realize  the  fact  that 
the  whole  of  this  singular  concert  is  the  elTort  of  a  single 
bird.  Indeed,  it  is  impossible  to  listen  to  these  Orphean 
strains,  when  delivered  by  a  sii])erior  songster  in  his  native 
woods,  without  being  deeply  affected  and  almost  riveted  to 
the  s]iot  by  the  comjilicated  feelings  of  wonder  and  delight 
in  which,  from  the  graceful  and  sympathetic  action,  as  well  as 
enchanting  voice  of  the  performer,  the  eye  is  no  less  gratified 
than  the  ear.  It  is,  however,  painful  to  reflect  that  these  ex- 
traordinary powers  of  nature,  exercised  with  so  much  generous 
freedom  in  a  state  of  confinement,  are  n<jt  calculated  for  long 
endurance,  and  after  this  most  wonderful  and  interesting  pris- 
oner has  survived  for  6  or  7  years,  blindness  often  terminates 
his  gay  career  ;  and  thus  shut  out  from  the  cheering  light,  the 
solace  of  his  lonely  bu-t  active  existence,  he  now  after  a  time 
droops  in  silent  sadness  and  dies. 

Tiie  Mockingbird  is  a  rare  but  regular  summer  visitor  to  Rhode 
Islaiul,  Connecticut,  and  southern  Massachusetts,  and  examples 
have  been  taken  in  Maine.  .Mr.  Mcllwraith  n-ports  that  a  pair 
spent  the  summer  of  1X83  near  Hamilton.  Ontario,  and  C.  .A. 
McLennan  records  in  the  O.  &  O.  the  capture  of  one  near  Truro, 
\.  .S.      The  .species  is  chieflv  restricted  to  the  Southern  States. 


.        I 


;il 


ii 


1  H 

]:  ; 

'I          r 
I 

! 

J' 

.  i 

1 

' 

M 

'                   I. 

i 

i. 

I 

r  i-    ■ 

1 

1 

■' 


1! 

t 

! 


r      I' 


BROWN    THRASHKR. 

bkowx  thrush. 
Hari'orhvnchus  rufus. 

Char.  Above,  brij^ht  reddish  brown  t)r  rufous;  beneath,  white,  tinged 
with  rutous  or  buti";  l)rcast  and  side  sputied  witii  bruwu  ;  bill  about  as 
long  .IS  the  heail.     Length  lo'j  to  u  inches. 

.\>.>A  In  a  tfiicket  or  low  bush,  and  sometimes  on  the  ground;  bulky, 
and  looselv  con.strucied  of  twigs,  roots,  and  dried  grass,  sometimes  lined 
with  hor.-«e-hair  <tr  feather>, 

/£^..s.  ,-6  (usually  4) ;  dull  wliitc  with  buff  or  green  tint,  marked  with 
minute  spots  of  reddish  brown ;   1.00  X  o.So. 

This  large  and  well-known  songster,  inferior  to  none  but  the 
Mo(  king  Dinl  in  musical  talent,  is  found  in  every  part  of  this 
continent,  from  Hudson's  1)1}-  to  the  shores  of  the  Mexican 
Ciulf.  breeding  in  all  the  intermediate  spare,  though  more 
abundantly  towards  the  North.  It  retires  to  the  South  earlv  in 
f)ctober,  in  the  States  north  of  the  Carolinas.  and  probably  ex- 
tends its  migrations  at  this  season  through  the  warmer  regions 
towards  the  borders  of  the  tro])ics. 

From  the  15th  of  .\pril  to  early  in  May  these  birds  begin  to 
revisit  the  Middle  and  Northern  States,  keeping  pace  in  some 
mea.^ure  with  the  progress  of  vegetation  and  the  comparative 


I' 
If 


BKOWX   THRASIIKR. 


193 


,ith 


advaPiCcmcnt  of  the  season.  They  apjuar  always  to  come  in 
l)airs,  so  that  their  mutual  attachment  is  probably  more  durable 
than  the  season  of  incubation.  Stationed  on  the  top  of  some 
tall  orchard  or  forest  tree,  the  male.  uMy  and  animated,  sahites 
the  morn  of  his  arrival  with  his  loud  and  charminj;  song.  His 
voice,  somewhat  resembling  that  of  the  'Thrush  of  Fjirope,  but 
far  more  varied  and  powerful,  rises  pre-eminent  amidst  all  the 
vocal  choir  of  the  forest.  His  music  has  the  full  charm  of  in- 
nate originality ;  he  takes  no  delight  in  mimickry,  an«l  has 
therefore  no  title  to  the  name  of  Mocking  iJird.  On  his  fir>t 
ap])earance  he  falters  in  his  song,  like  the  Nightingale  :  but 
when  his  mate  commences  her  cares  and  labors,  his  notes 
attain  all  their  vigor  and  variety.  The  young  birds,  even  of 
the  first  season,  in  a  state  of  solitary  domestication,  wiih*>ut  the 
aid  of  tlie  j)arent's  voice,  already  whisper  forth  in  harmonious 
revery  the  pathetic  and  sweet  warble  instinctive  to  the  sj>ecies. 
In  the  month  of  May,  while  the  blooming  orchanls  perfume 
and  decorate  the  landscape,  the  enchanting  voice  of  the 
Thrasher  in  his  affectionate  lay  seems  to  give  grateful  utter- 
ance for  the  bounty  and  teeming  profusion  of  Nature,  and 
falls  in  pleasing  unison  with  the  harmony  and  beauty  of  the 
season. 

P'rom  the  beginning  to  the  middle  of  May  the  Thrashers  are 
engaged  in  building  their  nest,  selecting  for  this  purpose  usu- 
ally a  low,  thick  bush,  in  some  retired  thicket  or  swamp  a  few 
feet  from  the  earth,  and  sometimes  even  on  the  ground  in 
some  sheltered  tussuck,  or  near  the  root  of  a  bush.  They  dis- 
play the  most  ardent  affection  for  their  young,  attacking 
snakes,  dogs,  and  cats  in  their  (Kfence.  One  of  the  parents, 
usually  the  male,  seems  almost  continually  occupied  in  guard- 
ing against  any  dangerous  intruder.  'I'he  cat  is  attacked  com- 
monly at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  young,  and  the 
woods  echo  with  his  plaintive  ye-div^  yi'-Inu,  and  the  low, 
guttural,  angry  'tsh  ^fs/i  'fs/i  '/s/i.  The  enemy  is  thus  pursued 
off  the  field,  commonly  with  success,  as  guilty  grimalkin  ap- 
pears to  understand  the  threatening  gestures  and  complamts 
with  which  she  is  so  hicessantly  assailed.  Towards  their  more 
vol..  I.  —  13 


H 


vw 


If 


f 


Ui 


194 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


insidious  enemies  of  the  human  species,  when  approaching  the 
helpless  or  unfledged  young,  every  art  is  disijlaycd ;  threats, 
entreaties,  and  reproaches  the  most  pathetic  and  puwerful,  are 
tried  in  no  e<|uivocal  strain ;  they  dart  at  the  ravisher  in  wild 
desf>air,  and  lament,  in  the  most  touching  strains  of  sorrow,  the 
bereavement  they  sufiTer.  I  know  of  nothing  ecjuai  to  the  burst 
of  grief  manifested  by  these  affectionate  parents  excepting  the 
afflicting  accents  of  suffering  humanity. 

Their  food  consists  of  worms  and  insects  generally ;  also 
caterpillars,  beetles,  and  other  coleopterous  tribes,  as  well  as 
various  kin<ls  of  berries.  In  the  month  of  January  I  obsen'ed 
this  Thrush  and  the  Mocking  liird  feed  on  the  berries  of  the 
sumach.  Sometimes  they  raise  up  a  few  grains  of  planted 
com.  but  this  is  more  the  effect  of  caprice  than  appetite,  as 
the  search  for  grubworms  is  what  commonly  induces  this 
resort  to  scratching  up  the  soil.  The  Thrasher  is  an  active, 
watchfiil,  shy,  and  vigorous  si)ecies,  generally  Hying  low,  dwel- 
ling among  thickets,  and  skipping  from  bush  to  bush  with  his 
long  ta.iI  sometimes  spread  out  like  a  (nn.  About  the  first  week 
in  October,  after  moulting,  they  disappear  for  the  season  and 
pass  the  winter  in  the  Southern  States.  By  the  middle  of 
February,  or  early  in  March,  they  already  display  their  vocal 
powers  in  the  warmer  parts  of  (Icorgia  and  West  Florida. 
They  are  easily  reared,  and  become  very  familiar  anrl  amusing 
companions,  showing  a  strong  attachment  to  the  hand  that 
feeiis  irr?  TTOtects  them.  In  their  manners,  intelligence,  song, 
and  sj._;_  ..•.y,  they  nearly  ap[)roach  to  the  Mocking  IJird,  being 
equally  playful,  capricious,  petulant,  and  affectionate. 

The  Thrasher  is  abundant  in  Massachusetts,  and  is  found  in  \'er- 
mont  and  New  Hampshire,  but  near  the  Atlantic  seaboard  does 
not  go  lanher  north  than  southern  Maine.  It  occurs  regularly  in 
the  victr.isy  of  Montreal,  and  is  common  in  Ontario  and  Manitoba. 
It  winters  from  about  37°  soutliward. 


CATBIRD. 


195 


CATBIRD. 

GALEOSCOFri:S  carolinexsis. 

Char.  General  color  dark  slate,  paler  beneath  ;  top  of  head  and  tail 
black;  under  tail-coverts  chotnut.     Length  S  to  9 J4  inches. 

Xest.  In  thicket  or  orchard  ;  bulky,  and  rudely  constructed  of  twigs, 
leaves,  and  grass,  lined  with  grass  or  tine  roots. 

E.i;.i:^s.     4-6  ;  deep  blui»h  green  ;  0.95  X  0.70. 

This  quaint  and  familiar  songster  passes  the  winter  in  the 
southern  extremities  of  the  United  States  and  along  the  coast 
of  Mexico,  whence  as  early  as  February  it  arrives  in  (Geor- 
gia. About  the  middle  of  April  it  is  first  seen  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  at  length  leisurely  approaches  this  part  of  New 
P^ngland  by  the  close  of  the  first  or  beginning  of  the  second 
week  in  May.  These  birds  continue  their  migration  also  to 
Canada,  where  they  proceed  into  the  fur-countries  as  far  as 
the  45  th  parallel,  arriving  on  the  banks  of  the  Saskatchewan 
about  the  close  of  May.  Throughout  this  extent  and  to  the 
territory  of  the  Mississipj:)!  they  likewise  pass  the  period  of  in- 
cubation and  rearing  their  young.  They  remain  in  New  Eng- 
land till  about  the  middle  of  October,  at  which  time  the  young 
feed  principally  ui)on  wild  berries. 

The  Catbird  often  tunes  his  cheerful  song  before  the  break 
of  day,  hopping  from  bush  to  bush  with  great  agility  after  his 
insect  prey,  while  yet  scarcely  distinguishalile  amidst  the  dusky 
shadows  of  the  dawn.  The  notes  of  difterent  individuals  vary 
considerably,  so  that  sometimes  his  song  in  sweetness  and 
compass  1  scarcely  at  all  inferior  to  that  of  the  Ferniginous 
Thrush.  A  quaintness,  however,  prevails  in  all  his  efforts,  and 
his  song  is  frefjuently  made  up  of  short  and  blended  imitations 
of  other  birds,  —  given,  however,  with  great  emphasis,  melody, 
and  variety  of  tone,  and,  like  the  Nightingale,  invading  the 
hours  of  repose.  In  the  late  twilight  of  a  summer's  evening, 
when  scarce  another  note  is  heard  but  the  hum  of  the  drowsy 
beetle,  his  music  attains  its  full  effect,  and  often  rises  and  falls 
witli  all  the  swell  and  studied  cadence  of  finished  harmony. 


!. 


1 


It 


196 


SI.\f;iN(;    I5IRDS. 


During  the  heat  of  the  day,  or  1  'c  in  the  morning,  the  variety 
of  his  song  (lecHnes,  or  he  pursi  hi.s  employment  in  silence 
and  retirement. 

About  the  25th  of  May  one  of  these  familiar  birds  came  into 
the  Lotanic  (iarden  anil  took  u[)  his  summer  aboile  with  us. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  he  calk-d  u[)  in  low  whisperings  the  notes 
of  the  Whip-poor-will,  the  Kcdbird,  the /><•/('/><' A'  of  the  Tufted 
litmouse,  ami  other  imitations  of  Southern  birds  which  he  had 
collected  on  his  leisurely  route  from  the  South.  He  also  soon 
mocked  the  Ushc-yah  ' tslie-yali  of  the  little  .\cadian  Flycatch- 
ers, with  which  tht-  neighborhood  now  abounded.  Me  fre- 
quently answered  to  my  whittle  in  the  garden,  was  very  silent 
during  the  period  of  incubation,  and  e.\i)ressed  great  anxiety 
and  complaint  on  my  approaching  the  young  after  their  leaving 
the  nest. 

One  uf  the  most  remarkable  proi)cnsities  of  the  Catbird,  and 
to  which  it  owes  its  name,  is  the  unjileasant.  loud,  and  grating 
cat-like  ///<"*>  ('/</'>  '/'7'''  'A^.')  which  it  often  utters  on  being 
approached  or  offended.  .\s  the  irritation  increases,  this  note 
becomes  more  hoarse,  reiterated,  ami  vehement ;  and  some- 
times this  petulance  and  anger  are  carried  so  far  as  to  i»er- 
secute  ever}'  intruder  who  apjiroaches  the  premises.  This 
temi>er  often  prevails  after  the  young  are  fledged  :  and  though 
originating  no  doubt  in  parental  anxiety,  it  sometimes  appears 
to  outlive  that  season,  and  occasionally  becomes  such  an  an- 
noyance that  a  revengeful  and  fatal  blow  from  a  stick  or  stone 
is  but  too  often,  with  the  thoughtless  and  prejudiced,  the  re- 
wanl  of  this  harmless  and  capricious  provocation.  At  such 
times,  with  little  aj^parent  cause,  the  agitation  of  the  bird  is 
excessive  :  she  hurries  backward  and  forward  with  hanging 
wings  and  open  mouth,  mewing  and  screaming  in  a  paroxysm 
of  scolding  anger,  and  alighting  almost  to  peck  the  very  hand 
that  offers  the  insult.  To  touch  a  twig  or  branch  in  any  part 
of  the  garden  or  wood  is  often  amply  sufficient  to  call  down 
the  amusing  termagant.  This  harmless  excess,  and  simulation 
of  grimalkin's  tone.  —  that  wizard  animal  so  much  disliked  by 
many,  —  are  unfortunate  associations  in  the  cry  of  the  ^V/bird  ; 


•  i 


CATBIRD. 


«97 


LMllg 

lysiii 
and 

[)art 
i)\vn 
It  ion 
by 
Ird; 


I 


^1 


and  thus,  cmiplcd  with  an  ill  name,  this  delightful  and  familiar 
songster,  who  scck>  uut  the  very  >oeiety  of  man  and  reposes 
an  unmerited  ronfiilen*  e  in  his  protecticjn,  is  treated  with  un- 
deser\ed  ol)lo(|uy  and  contemiit.  The  tli.uht  of  the  Cathinl  is 
laborious,  and  usually  continued  only  from  bush  to  bush  ;  his 
progress,  however,  is  ver)-  wily,  and  his  attitudes  and  jerks 
amusingly  eapricious.  He  appears  to  have  very  little  fear  of 
enemies,  often  descends  to  the  ground  in  quest  of  insects,  and 
though  almost  familiar,  is  very  «[uick  in  his  retreat  from  real 
danger. 

The  food  of  the  Catbird  is  similar  to  that  of  the  preceding 
species,  being  insects  ami  worms,  particularly  beetles,  and  va- 
rious garden  fruits ;  feeding  his  young  often  on  cherries  and 
various  kinds  of  berries.  Sometimes  these  birds  are  obser\e(l 
to  attack  snakes  when  they  approach  the  vicinity  of  the  ne>t, 
and  commonlv  succeed  in  driving  off  the  enemv  ;  when  bitti  n, 
however,  by  the  poisonous  kinds,  it  is  probable,  as  related, 
that  they  may  act  in  such  a  manner  as  to  appear  lab(^ring 
under  the  intluence  of  fascination.  The  Catl)ird,  when  raised 
from  the  nest,  is  easily  domesticated,  becomes  a  very  amusing 
inmate,  an<l  seems  attached  to  his  cage,  as  to  a  dwelling  or 
place  of  security.  About  dawn  of  day,  if  at  large,  he  flirts 
about  with  affected  wildness.  repeatedly  jerks  his  tail  and 
wings  with  the  noise  almost  of  a  whip,  and  stretching  forth  his 
head,  opens  his  mouth  and  mews.  Sometimes  this  curious 
cry  is  so  guttural  as  to  be  uttered  without  opening  the  bill.  He 
often  also  gives  a  squeal  as  he  flies  from  one  place  to  another, 
and  is  very  tame,  though  pugnacious  to  all  other  birds  which 
approach  him  for  injury.  When  wanting  food,  he  stirs  round 
with  great  uneasiness,  jerks  everything  about  within  his  reach, 
and  utters  the  feeble  cry  of  the  caged  Mocking  IJird.  A  very 
amusing  individual,  which  I  now  describe,  began  his  vocal 
powers  by  imitating  the  sweet  and  low  warble  of  the  Sung 
Sparrow,  as  given  in  the  autumn ;  and  from  his  love  of  imita- 
tion on  other  occasions,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  he  pos- 
sesses no  original  note  of  his  own.  but  acquires  and  modulates 
the  songs  of  other  birds.     Like  the  Robin,  he  is  exceedingly 


iH 


., .» 


198 


SINGING   UIRDS. 


fond  of  washing,  and  dashes  about  in  the  water  till  every 
feather  appears  drem  hed  ;  he  also,  at  times.  ba>ks  in  the 
gravel  in  fine  weather.  His  food,  in  confinement,  is  almost 
ever)'thing  vegetable  except  unbniised  seeds,  —  as  bread,  fine 
pastr)-,  cakes,  scalded  cornmeal.  fniits,  particularly  those  which 
arc  juicy,  and  now  and  then  insects  and  minced  tlesh. 

The  Catbird  ocrnrs  regularly  ainnu  the  Annapolis  valley  in 
Nova  Scotia,  and  in  Ntw  Uriniswick  between  tlic  Maine  border 
and  the  valley  of  the  St.  John,  but  it  is  rarely  seen  elsewhere  in  the 
-Maritime  Provinces.  It  is  fairly  common  near  the  city  of  Quebec, 
and  abundant  about  Montreal  and  in  Ontario. 


'( 


Hi 


I 


9 


ROIJIN. 

MeRI.IA    MIGRATORIA. 

Char.  Above,  olive  gray;  head  and  nrck  darker,  sometimes  Mack; 
wings  and  tail  du>ky  ;  outer  tail-featiiers  broadly  tipped  with  white  ,  be- 
neath, browni.sh  red;  throat  white  with  dark  streaks;  under  tail-coverts 
white  ;  bill  yellow.     Length  9  to  10  inches. 

.Vc  >/.  Usually  in  a  tree,  but  often  on  fence-rail  or  window-ledge  of 
house  or  barn;  a  bulky  but  compact  structure  of  grass,  twigs,  etc., 
cemented  with  mud. 

/:.,V.r.     4-3;  greenish  blue  (occasionally  speckled) ;  1.15  X  o.So. 

The  familiar  and  welcome  Robins  are  found  in  summer 
throughout  the  North  American  continent  from  the  desolate 
regions  of  Hudson's  Day,  in  the  53d  degree,  to  the  tableland 
of  Mexico.  In  all  this  vast  space  the  American  I'ieldfares  rear 
their  young,  avoiding  only  the  warmer  maritime  districts,  to 
which,  however,  they  flock  for  support  during  the  inclemency 
of  winter.  The  Robins  have  no  fixed  time  for  migration,  nor 
any  particular  rendezvous  ;  they  retire  fru:n  the  higher  lati- 
tudes onlv  as  their  food  begins  to  fail,  and  so  leisurelv  and 
desultor)'  are  their  movements  that  they  make  their  appear- 
ance in  straggling  parties  even  in  Massachusetts,  feeding  on 
winter  berries  till  driven  to  the  South  by  deep  and  inundating 
snows.  At  this  season  they  swarm  in  the  Southern  .States, 
though  they  never  move  in  large  bodies.     The  holly,  prinos. 


ROHIX. 


199 


img 


sumach,  snilax,  randle-bcrry  myrtle,  and  the  Virc;inian  junii»or 
nc",  afford  them  an  ample  repast  in  the  winter,  in  the  absenee 
of  the  more  juicy  berries  of  autumn,  and  the  inserts  and 
worms  of  the  milder  season,  liven  in  the  vicinity  of  I'oston 
flocks  of  Robins  are  seen,  in  certain  seasons,  assembling  round 
open  springs  in  the  depth  of  winter,  having  arrived  probably 
from  the  colder  interior  of  the  State  ;  and  in  those  situations  they 
are  consetiuently  often  trapped  and  killed  in  great  numbers. 

Towards  the  close  of  January  in  South  Carolina  the  Kobin 
at  inter\als  still  tuned  his  song  ;  and  aV)out  the  second  week  of 
March,  in  the  Middle  States,  before  the  snows  of  winter  have 
wholly  disappeared,  a  few  desultory  notes  are  already  given. 
As  soon  as  the  loth  of  this  month  they  may  at  times  also  be 
heard  in  this  part  of  Xew  England.  Karly  in  April,  however, 
at  the  close  of  the  jealous  contests,  which  are  waged  with  ob- 
stinacy, they  are  only  seen  in  pairs  ;  and  now  from  the  (jn  hard 
or  the  edge  of  the  forest,  deliver  their  simple,  thrilling  lays  in 
all  the  artless  energy  of  true  affection.  This  earnest  song  re- 
calls to  mind  the  mellow  whistle  of  the  Thrush,  which  in  the 
charming  month  of  May  so  sweetly  rises  in  waibling  echoes 
from  the  low  copse  and  shady  glen.  Our  American  bird  has 
not,  however,  the  compass  and  variety  of  that  familiar  and 
much-loved  songster ;  but  his  freedom  and  willingness  to 
please,  render  him  an  universal  favorite,  and  he  now  comes, 
as  it  were,  v;ith  the  welcome  prelude  to  the  general  concert 
about  to  burst  upon  us  from  all  the  green  woods  an<l  blooming 
orchards.  With  this  ]ileasing  association  with  ihe  o])ening 
season,  amidst  the  fragrance  of  flowers  and  the  improving  ver- 
dure of  the  fields,  we  listen  with  peculiar  pleasure  to  the  sim- 
ple song  of  the  Robin.  The  confidence  he  reposes  in  us  by 
making  his  abode  in  our  gardens  and  orchards,  the  frankness 
and  innocence  of  his  manners,  besides  his  vocal  powers  to 
please,  insj^ire  respect  and  attachment  even  in  the  tniant 
school-boy,  and  his  exposed  nest  is  but  rarely  molested.  He 
owes,  however,  this  immunity  in  no  small  degree  to  the  fortu- 
nate name  which  he  bears  ;  as  the  favorite  Robin  Redbreast, 
said  to  have  covered  with  a  leafy  shroud  the  lost  and  wander- 


II 


I 


F 


r  1 


If 


300 


SINGING    151 KDS. 


i  I 


ing  "  babes  in  the  woods,"  is  held  in  universal  respect  in  every 
part  of  l!uroi)e.  where  he  is  known  by  endearing  names,  and  so 
faniiHar  in  winter  that  he  sometimes  taps  at  the  window  or 
enters  the  house  in  search  of  crumbs,  ami  like  the  domestic 
fowls,  claims  his  welcome  pittance  at  the  farmer's  door. 

'i"he  nest  of  this  species  is  ol'ten  on  the  horizontal  branch  of 
an  apple-tree,  or  in  a  bush  or  tree  in  the  woods,  and  so  large 
as  to  l)e  scarix'ly  ever  wholly  concealed,  'i'he  parents  show 
great  affection,  courage,  and  anxiety  for  the  safety  of  their 
young,  keeping  up  a  noisy  cackling  chirj)  when  the  place  is 
api)roa(lH(l,  sometimes  even  boldly  i)e(  king  at  the  haml  or 
flying  in  the  face  of  the  intruder;  and  they  have  often  serious 
contests  with  the  piratical  Cuckoo,  who  slyly  watches  the  ab- 
sence of  the  parents  to  tlevour  their  eggs.  To  avoid  these 
visits  and  the  attacks  of  other  enemies,  the  Robin  has  been 
known  to  buikl  his  nest  within  a  few  yards  of  the  blacksmidi's 
anvil;  and  in  Portsmouth  (New  Hampshire)  one  was  seen  to 
employ  for  the  same  jiurpose  the  stern  limbers  of  an  unfin- 
ished vessel,  in  which  the  cari)enters  were  constantly  it  work, 
the  bird  api)earing  by  this  adventurous  association  as  if  con- 
scious of  the  proteC-ion  of  so  singular  an  bold  a  situation,  I 
have  also  seen  a  nest  of  the  Robin  bottomed  with  a  mass  of 
pine  shavings  taken  without  alarm  from  the  bench  of  the  car- 
penter. From  the  i)etulant  ami  reiterated  chirp  so  commonly 
uttered  by  the  Robin  \'hen  sur])rised  or  irritated,  the  Indians 
of  Hudson's  15ay  call  hiiu  from  this  note,  Pce-ptc-tshu.  'I'hey 
often  also  utter  a  loud  echoing  'kh  'kh  'kh,  and  sometimes 
chirj)  in  a  high  or  slender  tone  when  alarmed,  and  with  an 
affectation  of  anger  sharply  flirt  the  tail  and  ends  of  the  wings. 
They  raise  several  broods  in  a  season,  and  considerable  num- 
bers flock  together  in  the  latter  end  of  smnmer  and  autumn. 
^^'hen  feeding  on  cherries,  poke,  sassafras,  and  sour-gum  ber- 
ries, they  are  so  intent  as  to  be  easilv  approached  and  shot 
down  in  niunbers  ;  and  when  fat  are  justly  esteemed  for  food 
and  often  brought  to  market.  In  the  s])ring  they  frequi-ntly 
descend  to  the  ground  in  quest  of  worms  and  insects,  which 
then  constitute  their  -principal  support. 


! 


lonly 
ians 

'hey 

imes 
an 

in^rs. 
iiin- 

imn. 
)cr- 
ihot 
;)()fl 
ntly 
lich 


I 


ROBfX, 


201 


They  are  commonly  brouiihi:  np'  Dim  tiac  cage,  and  M-eui  \ery 
docile  and  content.  'I'hev  i^mt;  mkIL  rt-adilv  karn  to  imitate 
li\ciy  par's  of  tunes,  antl  some  ktve  l)»tien  taught  !«>  ]»i])e  forth 
l>salms  even  to  so  <lull  and  aijlerain  a  m-easure  as  that  of"  OA/ 


:^dcrablc  taste  ft)r  mim- 
V"'  birds  aroimd  tin  in, 
•  A  ill,  and  uther>.      ( )n 

'Jtr^  Usually  make  some 
^   ihe  bill.      At  tinus 


JIu)ii/iti/''  .'  'I'hey  ac([uire  al.io  "  - 
ickry,  imitatini;  the  nott  s  of  rii 
sucn  as  the  Hluebinl,  I'evver-.  W  ^ 
being  approached  with  the  rln^  !•. 
show  of  anger  1)\'  crac  king  an 
they  become  very  tame,  and  will  go  an  arnJ  out  (jf  tlie  houie 
with  domestic  confidence.  i<iK:\  imcjrt-r  wiit-n  left  alonr,  and  on 
su(  h  occasions  have  sometimes  the  3iji;gacit)'  of  calling  attt  iition 
by  articulating  endearing  wonls,  2a  fr<tt}. pretty,  etc.,  < onntc- 
ting,  ai)j)arenily  with  these  e.xpr'^---  -  .  '^  •  i-  ireneral  import  of 
attentive  blandishment.     They  ..niosi  naked   in   the 

moulting  season,  in  which  thry  ,  j.-  •  • .»  suffer  considernbiy, 
yet  have  been  known  to  survive  tor  i  -  }rar>  or  u])uardD.  I'he 
rufous  color  of  the  breast  becomrs  4«nrifT  in  those  birds  which 
thus  live  in  confnieuient.    Their     •  ^ong  i>  in  the  morn- 

ing, and  commences  before  suan.->e,  ai  which  time  it  is  very 
loud,  full,  and  emphatic. 

The  eastern  form  of  this  sperfe>*  is  not  fosicd  westward  of  the 
Great  Plains  excepting  in  tht-  far  Xortla- mflaere  il  has  been  traced 
to  tiio  \'ukon  district  of  .-\lask.-i.  Fnoan  hSk-  eastern  base  of  the 
Rockies  to  the  I'aeific  it  is  rtplaced  hj ^■opinqua,  a  larger,  grayer 
variety. 

I  have  seen  large  flocks  of  RoP>fn+  nti  \c-w  Bninswit  k  during 
.some  u'ntors.  and  every  year  they  are  nwj.Tf  or  less  common  during 
the  cold  moiuhs.  These  winter  bfrrfH  fear-f  much  more  white  on 
their  under  parts  than  is  seen  on  -pefrnwrm*.  taken  in  tin-  suinnur, 
and  their  entire  plumat;e  is  hoary.  Tv-t  doubtless  spend  the  sum- 
mer much  farther  north.  —  prohiibly  ^m  ihc-  barren  lands  which 
border  the  .Arctic  Ocean,  -and  are  '^-r  rlif  northernmost  ed^e  of 
that  cloud  of  Robins  which  every  n*es  from  their  breeding- 

grounds  and  sails  awav  southward  .■■  .  o^tTi  it  has  finally  si'ttled, 
its  eastern  margin  is  found  stnr  hftl  '-  •  '■  -<ju]f  f)f  St.  Lawrente 
to  the  West  Indies.  Throughout  thi^  .  .  embracing  as  it  does 
manv  variations  of  climate,  Robins  nsaiT  be  found  in  suitable  local- 
ities during  cverv  winter.  —  rather  rare,  sosmrtimes,  at  the  north, 
but  increasing  in  abundance  toward*  tB»e  SooIIl. 


I« 


li' 


an 


*^^r^^ 


m 


.■• 


I 


202 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


The  habit  of  this  species  of  assembling  in  large  communities  to 
roost  at  ni<;ht,  during  the  summer  montiis,  was  unknown  to  natur- 
alists until  a  few  years  ago,  and  no  mention  of  this  habit  appeared 
in  print  until  Octoi)er,  1.S90,  when  detailed  accounts  of  several 
'•  roosts  ■'  that  had  been  discovered  in  the  vicinity  of  lioston  were 
published  in  tlie  '"Atlantic  Monthly"  and  "The  Auk."  They  were 
written  by  Mr.  Bradford  Torrey  and  Mr.  William  Brewster  re- 
spectively. The  ••  ruosts  "*  are  situated  in  Norton's  Woods,  on 
Bea\er  Brook,  Belmont,  in  Longwood,  and  in  Melrose. 

The  Robins  assembling  in  these  places  are  numbered  by 
thousands. 


NoTK.  —  A  few  examples  of  the  Vakif-d  Thrush  {^Hcspcro- 
cii/ila  iiavia)  have  wandered  from  the  Pacific  coast  to  the  Eastern 
States;  and  the  Ri:i)-wixged  Thrush  (^Turdus  i/iuc us)  occ.i'sxon- 
ally  wanders  from  Europe  to  Greenland. 


WOOD   THRUSH. 

TURUUS    iMUSTELIXUS. 

Char.  Above,  tawny.  I)rightest  on  iiead,  shading  to  olive  on  rump 
and  tail ;  beneath,  white  ;  breast  aiul  sides  marked  with  round  spots  of 
dusky.     Lengtii  -jl^  to  8 '4  inciies. 

Xest.  In  a  thicket  ox  on  low  biancii  of  small  tree,  usually  in  a  moist 
place  ;  of  grass  and  leaves  cemented  with  nuid.  lined  with  fine  roots. 

F.ggs.     3-5;  pale  greenish  l)Iiie  ;   r.05  X  0.75. 

This  solitary  nnd  retiring  songster  during  summer  inhabits 
the  whole  continent  from  1  liaison's  Bay  to  Florida ;  and  ac- 
cording to  my  friend  Mr.  \\'arc,  breeds  as  far  south  as  the 
vicinity  of  Natchez,  in  the  territory  of  Mississippi,  ^^"hether 
it  leaves  the  boundaries  of  the  United  States  in  the  winter  is 
not  satisfactorily  ascertained  ;  as  the  species  is  then  silent,  and 
abvavs  difficult  of  access,  its  residence  is  rendered  peculiarly 
doubtful.  The  lateness  of  the  season  in  which  it  still  lingers 
renders  it  probable  that  it  may  winter  in  the  Southern  States, 
as  a  yotmg  bird,  gleaning  insects  and  berries,  has  been  caught 
in  a  garden  in  Boston  on  the  26th  of  October. 

From  the  southern  parts  of  the  I'nion,  or  wherever  he  may 
winter,  the  Wood  Thnish  arrives  in  the  Middle  States  from  the 


by 


)its 
;u- 
thr 

KT 

is 

111(1 

irly 
;"crs 
tcs, 
['.lit 

lay 
he 


WOOD  THRUSH. 


203 


ist  to  the  15th  of  April  ;  though  his  appearance  here,  where 
the  species  is  scarce,  does  not  take  i)lace  earlier  than  the  be- 
ginning of  May.  At  the  dawn  of  morning  he  now  announces 
his  presence  in  the  woods,  and  from  the  toi)  of  some  tall  tree, 
rising  through  the  dark  and  shady  forest,  he  pours  out  his  few, 
clear,  and  harmonious  notes  in  a  pleasing  revery,  as  if  inspired 
by  the  enthusiasm  of  renovated  Nature.  I'he  prelude  to  this 
song  resembles  almost  the  double  tonguing  of  the  tlute,  blended 
with  a  tinkling,  shrill,  and  solemn  warble  which  re-echoes  from 
his  solitary  retreat  like  the  dirge  of  some  sad  rc(  lu>c  who 
shuns  the  busy  haunts  of  life.  The  whole  air  consists  usually 
of  4  parts  or  bars,  which  succeed,  in  deliberate  time,  and 
finally  blend  together  in  impressive  anil  soothing  harni«)ny, 
becoming  more  mellow  and  sweet  at  every  repetiii(jn.  Rival 
performers  seem  to  challenge  each  other  from  various  \)dns  of 
the  wood,  vying  for  the  favor  of  their  mates  with  sympathetic 
res])onses  and  softer  tones  ;  and  some,  waging  a  jealous  strife, 
terminate  the  warm  dispute  by  an  appeal  to  combat  and  vio- 
lence. Like  the  Robin  and  the  'Thrasher,  in  dark  :\\v\  gloomy 
weather,  when  other  birds  are  sheltered  and  silent,  the  clear 
notes  of  the  Wood  Thrush  are  heard  through  the  (lr()p])ing 
woods  from  dawn  to  dusk,  so  that  the  sadder  the  day.  the 
sweeter  and  more  constant  is  his  song.  His  <  lear  and  inter- 
rupted whittle  is  likewise  often  nearly  the  only  voice  of  melody 
heard  by  the  traveller,  to  miil-day,  in  the  heat  of  summer,  as  he 
traverses  the  silent,  dark,  and  wooded  wilderness,  remote  from 
the  haunts  of  men.  It  is  nearly  impo>i>il)le  by  words  to  con- 
vey any  idea  of  the  ])eculiar  warl)le  of  this  vocal  hermit  :  but 
amongst  his  phrases  the  sound  of  \iir<>r>\  ])eculiarly  litpiid.  and 
followed  by  a  trill  repeated  in  two  interrupted  bars,  is  readily 
recognizable.  At  times  the  notes  bear  a  considerable  resem- 
blance to  tlio>e  of  Wilson's  Thrush  ;  su<  h  as  (/)  rlulnt  'rr/ir/in, 
then  varied  to  \/i  rillui  7'i7/ia,  \h  villia  I'r/ir/iii,  then  '<•//  <•</// 
vi//iii.  high  and  hhrill. 

The  Wood  Thnish  is  always  of  a  shy  and  retiring  disjiosi- 
tion,  appearing  alone  or  only  in  single  pairs,  and  while  he 
willingly  charms  us  with  his  song,  he  is  content  and  even  soli- 


iii 


It- 


204 


SINGlNCi    lilRDS. 


\ll 


i 

■i 

i 


If  ill!;! 


tiious  to  remain  conccalL-d.  His  faNoritc  iiaunts  are  low,  shady 
glens  by  watcrcourst-s,  oUcn  remlered  dark  with  aldcr-bushes, 
mantled  with  the  trailing  grape-vine.  In  (lue.st  ot"  his  insect 
prey,  he  delights  to  follow  the  meanders  ol"  the  rivulet,  through 
whose  leafy  shade.>  the  sun])eanis  steal  only  in  a  tew  inter- 
rupted rays  over  the  sparkling  surfa(  e  of  the  running  brook. 
So  partial  is  this  bin!  to  >olitude  that  1  have  known  one  to 
siing  almost  uniformly  in  the  same  i)lace,  though  nearly  half  a 
mile  from  his  mate  and  nest.  At  times  indeed  he  would  \en- 
ture  a  few  faltering,  low  notes  in  an  oak  near  his  consort,  but 
his  mellowest  morning  and  evening  warble  was  always  deliv- 
ered from  a  tall  hickory,  overtopjjing  a  grove  of  hemlock  firs, 
in  which  the  dimness  of  twiligriL  prevailed  e\en  at  noon.  The 
\\'ootl  Thrush,  like  the  Nigh'.ingale.  therefore  feels  insj)ire(l  in 
darkness  ;  but  instead  of  waiting  for  the  setting  sim,  he  (  hooses 
a  retreat  where  the  l)eams  of  day  can  seldom  enter.  These 
shady  retreats  ha\e  also  an  additional  nttraction  to  our  Thrush  ; 
it  is  here  that  the  most  interesting  scene  of  his  instinctive 
labor  begins  and  ends  :  here  he  first  saw  the  light  and  breathed 
into  existence  ;  and  here  he  now  bestows  his  ni'st  in  a  sapling 
oak,  or  in  the  ne.xt  thick  laurel  or  blooming  alder,  whose  ber- 
ries afford  him  amjjle  repast  in  the  coming  autumn.  IJeetles, 
cater])illars,  various  inset  ts.  and  in  autumn,  berries,  constitute 
the  ])rincipal  food  of  the  Wood  Thrush,  'i'he  yoiuig  remain 
for  weeks  nroimd  gardens  in  quest  of  berries,  and  are  particu- 
larly fond  of  those  of  the  various  species  of  cornel  and  vibur- 
num. At  this  season  they  occasionally  leave  their  fovorite 
glens,  and  in  their  devious  wanderings,  ]ire\inus  to  their  de- 
parture, sometimes  venture  to  \isit  the  rund  suburbs  of  the 
city.  The  young  are  easily  rai.;ed,  and  ^ing  nearly  as  well  in 
the  cage  as  in  their  native  wilds. 

Xuttall  made  a  mistake  in  giving  to  the  Wood  Thnisli  so  ex- 
tended a  range,  and  must  have  eoufused  this  species  will)  the 
Olive-hai  ked,  of  wiiich  he  makes  no  mention.  In  New  lai^Iand 
the  Wood  Tlirush  is  rarely  found  nortli  of  .Massachusetts  exeoi)ting 
in  western  \'ermont.  Il  occurs  in  the  soutlieri\  parts  of  Ontario 
and  Miiluuan.  and  lias  been  taken  in  Minnesota.  It  has  l)cen 
fouiul  in  winter  in  Cuba  and  (aiatemahi. 


UEKMIT    TIIKLSll. 


20; 


Hi:  KM  IT     11  IRISH. 

SWAM  I'    ROIMN. 
TURDUS   AOXALASCHK.K    PALLASII. 

CllAK.  Al)ovc.  olive  brown  or  ru- set, .shading  to  rufous  on  rump  and 
tail;  i^eneatli  hullisli.  shaclccl  with  olivu  on  sides;  tiiroat  and  breast 
niaikeil  witii  olive  wedge-siiapcd  spins.     Length  O'j  to  7,',  inches. 

.\<  ^f.     ( )ii  the  ground,  icxjsely  made  of  leaves,  grass,  and  moss. 

K&'-    3-5 ;  greenish  blue  ;  0.S5  X  0.65. 

This  species,  so  niiu  h  like  tin-  NiLjiitinuale  in  color,  is  r^-  .irt  e 
inferior  to  that  celebnited  bird  in  its  powers  of  --onj:,  and 
greatly  exceeds  the  \  )od  I  iiru->h  in  the  melody  and  sweetness 
of  its  lay.  It  inhabits  thr  I'liilid  Slates  tVoin  d;e  lofty  alpine 
mountains  of  New  Hampshire  to  I'lorida.  It  is  nUo  met  with 
on  the  tabk'laiid  of  Mexico  and  in  the  warmer  (limale  of  the 
Antilles.  In  rennsylvania.  New  Jersey,  and  N\  w  l.n^land,  at 
the  close  of  autumn,  it  appears  to  miij^nite  eastward  to  the  sea- 
const  in  quest  of  the  winter  berries  on  wh.ic  h  it  now  feeds  ;  in 
spring  iiwd  summer  it  lives  chietly  on  insec  ts  and  their  larva.', 
and  also  collects  the  surviving  berries  of  the  Mitilnila  ;>•/<//>. 

Like  the  preceding  sjiecies.  it  ajipears  to  ( ourt  solitude,  and 
lives  wholly  in  the  woods.  In  the  Southern  States,  where  it 
inhabits  the  whole  year,  it  freijuents  the  d;irk  and  des<jlate 
shades  of  the  cane  swamj«.  In  tliese  almost  Stygian  regions, 
which,  besides  being  cool,  abound  pri)bably  with  its  fivorite 
insect  food,  we  are  nearly  sure  to  meet  our  sweetly  vocal 
hermit  Hitting  through  the  settled  gloom,  which  the  brighte-t 
rays  of  noon  scarcely  illumine  with  more  than  twilight.  In  one 
of  sucii  swami)s,  in  the  Choctaw  nation.  Wilson  examined  a 
nest  of  this  species  whi(  h  was  fixed  on  the  horizontal  branch 
of  a  tree,  formed  with  great  neatness  and  withoiU  using  any 
plastering  of  mud.  The  outside  was  made  of  a  layer  of  coarse 
grass,  having  the  roots  attached,  and  intermixed  with  horse- 
h;iir;  the  lining  consisted  of  green  filitbrm  b!:u!e-:  of  dry  grass 
very  neatly  wotmd  about  the  interior. 

In  the   Miildle  States  these  birds  are  onlv  seen  for  a  few 


tl 


i. 


i 


i\       : 


m 


206 


SINGLNCi   BIRDS. 


weeks  in  the  spring  and  full.  They  arrive  in  this  part  of  New 
Kngland  about  the  10th  of  April,  and  disperse  to  jjass  the 
summer  in  the  sechision  of  the  forest.  'I'hey  are  often  seen  on 
the  ground  in  cjuest  of  their  food,  and  fre(iueni  low  and  thick 
coi)ses,  into  \vhi<  h  tliey  c(Miimonly  fly  for  conceahiient  when 
too  attentively  observed  ;  though  when  in  small  companies,  in 
the  spring  season,  they  do  not  appear  very  shy,  but  restless 
from  the  unsettled  state  of  their  circumstances.  When  dis- 
persed, they  utter  a  low,  chirping  call,  and  for  some  time 
continue  to  fre(iuent  the  same  secluded  part  of  the  forest 
in  society.  .\t  times,  like  the  Wagtail,  they  keep  this  part  of 
their  body  in  a  slow,  vertical  motion.  In  manners  they  strongly 
resemble  the  following  species,  but  their  song  seems  to  be 
unusually  lively  and  varied. 

The  Hermit  is  a  common  bird  in  the  Maritime  Provinces  and 
Quebec,  and  nests  from  about  latitude  44°  northward.  It  is  com- 
mon on  .\nticosti  and  along  the  north  shore  of  the  (iulf  of  St. 
Lawrence,  and  has  l)een  taken  at  Lake  Mistassini.  In  Ontario  it 
occurs  chiefly  as  a  migrant,  thoniili  breedinij  in  the  Muskoka 
district.  In  .\ew  England  also  it  is  principallv  known  as  a 
migrant,  breeding  in  numbers  only  along  the  northern  bonier  and 
on  the  higher  hills  of  Connecticut  and  .Massachusetts.  The  nest 
has  been  taken  in  Ohio  and  in  southern  Michigan. 

The  opinions  expressed  by  Nuttall  that  the  Hermit  Thrush  is  a 
peculiarly  shy  and  solitary  bird,  and  that  its  favorite  resorts  are 
amid  the  deep  forests,  are.  I  think,  somewhat  misle.uling:  at  least 
my  observations  in  .\ew  lirunswic  k  led  me  to  form  (piite  different 
opinions.  I  did  tind  these  birds  courting  retirement  and  ajipar- 
ently  destitute  of  either  vanity  or  curiosity  :  but  they  always  dis- 
played a  calm  self-po.ssession  that  is  inconsistent  with  shyness. 
Nor  were  they  peculiarly  solitary,  for  though  it  was  unu.sual  to  .see 
a  number  of  them  in  clo.se  companionshi]).  it  was  not  unusual  to 
meet  with  half  a  dozen  in  as  many  minutes,  or  to  tind  as  manv 
nests  within  a  small  area. 

Like  all  woodland  birds,  they  prefer  the  groves  to  the  open  fields, 
and  they  enjoy  a  cool  shade  in  a  moist  valley;  but  they  build 
their  nests  near  the  settlements,  and  rarely  go  into  the  den.ser  for- 
ests. This  is  their  habit  in  New  Brunswick,  though  of  course  when 
farther  north  they  must  resort  to  the  timber  districts;  there  are 
few  .settlements  to  attract  them. 


P^'<->/^MJi 


IS  a 
arc 
-ast 

iL'Ilt 

^ar- 
(lis- 

1CSS. 

soe 
to 
lanv 

■Ids. 

)uil(l 

for- 

hen 

are 


WTT,S()NS     rilkl'SH. 

TAWXY    THRUSH.     VKKKY. 

' I V  k  1  )L"S    !■  USCF>iCKNS. 

Char.  Above,  light  tawny  or  rufous  ;  iK-ncath,  white,  shaded  with 
creamy  buff  on  breast,  and  with  «ilive  on  sides;  breast  spotted  with 
tawny.     Lengtii  6'.  to  7 '^  inches. 

A\st.  On  the  ground  or  near  it,  usually  at  the  base  of  small  tree  or  in 
tuft  of  old  grass  ;  of  leaves  and  grass,  lined  with  t'lne  roots. 

^-'vV-f-     3~5  !  pale  greenish  blue  ;  0.S5  X  0.65. 

This  common  Nortlurn  spe'cie-s  arrivt-s  in  Pennsylvania  and 
New  ICngland  about  the  1)cl,m lining  of  May,  ami  its  northern 
range  extends  as  far  as  Labrador.  It  appears  to  retire  to  the 
South  early  in  October,  and  is  more  decidedly  insectivorous 
than  any  other  native  species.     Accortling  to  Wilson,  many  of 


:nj 


* 


m-h  ^  ^^ 


II 


I 


1 1 


iif' 


;( 


II 


208 


SINULNG    lUUDS. 


these  bin!-  winter  in  llv  myrll-j-swamph  of  South  C'aroHna.  1 
have  noi,  however,  seen  thcni  in  the  vSouthern  States  at  that 
sea>4j)n,  and  most  part  of  the  s!)e(;ies  pass  on  probably  as  far  as 
the  coast  of  the  .Nk-xican  (lulf.  They  do  n(jt,  acconUng  to 
Wilson,  bree«i  in  the  lower  inirts  of  I'rnnsylvania,  though  un- 
tloublciJiv  thev  <lo  in  the  mountainous  districts,  where  thc-v  are 
seen  as  btc  as  the  2oih  of  May.  'I'hey  projiagate  and  are  very 
comnton  in  Ma»ijachusclts. 

In  its  retiring  habits  and  love  of  concealment  this  Thrush 
resembles  t;u  j»receding.  It  frc(iuents  the  dark  and  shady 
iMjrileT'  *"  .'T5»-,dl  brooks  and  woods,  and  sometimes  the  bu>hy 
and  ret  1  \j  irs  of  the  garden  ;  from  whence,  withcnit  being 
often  seen,  in  ih.  .  orning  and  particularly  the  evening  to  the 
ver>'  apfjiroach  of  night,  we  often  hear  the  siuguhir,  (juaint.  and 
musical  note  of  this  querulous  si)e(ies  at  short  inter\als,  as  one 
perches  u|jion  some  low  branch  of  a  tree  or  bush.  This  curious 
whisihng  note  sounds  like  Vv////  V'Vv////  'r'/v7///  't''/r/i/},  and 
sotneiimes  'rr</  rv</  'rrclid  'mhCi  vchii,  nmning  uj)  the  notes 
till  ihcy  become  shrill  and  (piick  at  the  (lose,  in  the  first 
jjhrasc.  bwt  from  high  to  low,  and  terminating  blender  and 
slow,  in  the  latter:  another  expression  seems  to  be.  'rr 'rrd 
ithiirr,  ascending  like  a  whistle.  The  song  of  another  indi- 
vidual was  expressed  in  the  following  manner:  'rc'villill'iiirill 
' tullull^ttillul.  It  was  then  repeated  with  variation,  ^7'e  viHillil 
viinil  riinil :  then  villillill  viZ/i //■//,  tnlli/il/  tuirilill :  the  whole 
agreeably  and  singularl\'  delisiTed  in  a  shrill,  hollow  voi<  e, 
almost  like  the  >f>tmd  of  liquor  ])assing  through  a  ttmnel  into  a 
bottle.  I  have  also  heard  several  t)f  these  sounds,  S(jmetimes 
occasionally  prefaced  by  a  mewing  or  chirping  warble.  Th».>e 
soimds,  though  monotonous,  are  jiossessi'd  of  greater  variety 
than  is  at  fir-^t  imagined,  the  terminating  tone  or  key  ch;mging 
through  several  re])etitions,  so  as  to  constitute  a  harmony  and 
me!;>«ly  in  *>ome  degree  ai)proaching  the  song  of  the  m<jre 
musical  Wood  Thrush.  I'Yom  this  habit  of  serenading  into 
the  night,  the  species  is  sometimes  here  dignified  with  the 
nickname  of  the  Nightingale.  Occasionally  he  utters  an  angr)', 
rather  plaintive  mew,  like  the  Catbird,  or  a   ([uivering  bleat 


Wll.SUN  S   Til  lU  SI  I. 


209 


iV.(\ 


almost  similar  to  that  of  a  lamh  ;  and  when  approached,  watches 
Mild  follows  the  inlnnlcr  with  an  ani^'ry  i)r  petulant  qucah 
(jui'iih  ;  at  other  times  a  sort  of  mewing,  melancholy,  or  com- 
plaining vV^747  yfo7C'  is  heard,  and  then,  jjerhaps,  a  hasty  an<l 
lmi)atient /»<■/// /^v?/  follows.  The  food  of  this  species,  at  least 
during  the  early  l)art  of  summer,  apj)ears  to  be  shelly  insects  of 
various  kinds,  f)arti(!ularly  C'/inso/z/iAis,  or  laily-bugs,  and  those 
many  legged  h;ird  worms  of  the  genus  lulus. 

A  good  while  after  the  commencement  of  the  perio«i  of  in- 
cubation I  have  observed  the  males  engaged  in  obstinate  (juar- 
rels.  On  the  4th  of  June,  1S30,  I  obsened  two  of  these 
petulant  Thrushes  thus  fiercely  and  jealously  contending  ;  one 
of  them  used  a  jilaintive  and  angry  *  le  as  he  chasecl  his 
antagonist  uj)  and  down  the  tree.  At  lei.^tt  iiowever,  a  cousin 
Catbird,  to  which  this  species  has  soni'  affirity,  stepped  in  be- 
twixt thj  combatants,  and  they  soon  p.irted.  One  of  these 
birds  had  a  nest  and  mate  in  the  goose'-erry  bush  of  a  neigh- 
boring garden  ;  the  second  bird  wa'-;  thus  a  dissatisfierl  hermit, 
and  spent  many  weeks  in  the  IJotai^*:  Garden,  where,  thotigh 
at  times  sad  and  solitary,  yet  he  constantly  aniHsed  us  with  his 
forlorn  scjng,  and  seemed  at  last,  as  it  were,  accjuainted  with 
those  who  whistled  for  him,  jjceping  out  of  the  bushes  with  a 
sort  of  complaisant  curiosity,  and  from  his  almost  nocturnal 
habits  became  a  great  persecutor  of  the  assassin  Owl  whenever 
he  dared  to  make  his  appearance. 

The  nest  of  \\'ilsi)n's  Thrush  (commenced  ;il)out  the  close  of 

the  first  week  in  May)  is  usually  in  a  low  and  thorny  bush  in 

the  dirkest  part  of  the  forest,  at  no  great  distance  from  the 

ground    (1    to    :;   fiet),   sometimes  indeed  on   the   earth,  btit 

raised   by  a  bed  of  leaves,  and  greatly  resembles  that  of  the 

Catbird.     This  s))ecies  seems,  indeed,  for  security  artfully  to 

depend  on  the  resemblance  of  itself  and  its  leafy  nest  with  the 

l)os()ni  of  the  forest  on  which  it  rests,  and  wlu-n  approache<l  it 

sits  so  close  as  nearly  to  admit  of  being  taken  up  by  the  hand. 

The  nest  sometimes  a])]iears  without  any  shelter  but  sha<le  and 

association  of  colors  with  the  place  on  which  it  rests.     I  have 

seen  one  ])laced  on  a  mass  of  prostrated  dead  brambles,  on  a 
vol..  I.  —  14 


I ) 


!=  » 


210 


\f 


M 


\\  •  I 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


*4 


t 


fallen  heap  of  lilac  twigs  in  a  ravine,  and  also  in  a  small 
withereil  branch  of  reil  oak  \vhi<  h  had  fallen  into  a  bush  ;  i)e- 
low  it  was  also  bedded  with  e\a<  tly  sinular  leaves,  so  as  easily 
to  deceive  the  eye.  iJut  with  all  these  precautions  they  appear 
to  lose  many  eggs  and  young  by  sipiirrels  and  other  animals. 
The  nest  is  usually  bott«)med  with  dry  oak  or  beech  leaves, 
coarse  stalks  of  grass  and  weeds,  and  lined  \ery  generally  with 
naturally  dissected  foliage,  its  stalks,  some  fine  grass,  and  at 
other  times  a  mixture  of  root-fibres ;  but  no  earth  is  emi)loyed 
in  the  fabric.  The  eggs,  4  or  5,  are  of  an  emerald  green  with- 
out spots,  and  ditfer  from  tluxse  of  the  Catbird  only  in  being  a 
little  smaller  and  more  inclined  to  blue.  So  shy  is  the  sjjecies 
that  though  I  feigned  a  violent  chirjjing  near  the  nest  contain- 
ing their  young,  which  brought  Sparrows  and  a  neighboring 
Baltimore  to  the  rescue,  the  parents,  peejjing  at  a  distance,  did 
not  venture  to  approach  or  even  express  any  marked  concern, 
though  they  prove  very  watchful  guardians  when  their  brood 
are  fledged  and  with  them  in  the  woods.  They  have  com- 
monly two  broods  in  the  season  ;  the  second  being  raised 
about  the  middle  of  July,  after  which  their  musical  notes  are 
but  seldom  heard.  I  afterwards  by  an  accident  obtained  a 
young  fledged  bird,  which  retained  in  the  cage  the  unsocial 
and  silent  timidity  peculiar  to  the  species. 

Wilson's  Thrush  lireods  farther  to  tho  southward  than  the  Her- 
mit, but  does  not  range  c|uite  so  far  north.  It  is  common  in  the 
Maritime  Provinces  and  near  the  city  of  Quebec,  but  has  not  been 
taken  recently  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 
Thougli  it  is  abunchuit  in  .Manitoba,  and  Cliapman  reports  its 
occurrence  in  Newfoundland,  it  i^reeds  abundandy  in  Ontario  and 
in  northern  Ohio. 

In  New  Brunswick  I  have  found  the  nest  as  frecjuently  in  an 
open  pasture  as  in  more  olxscure  places. 


Note.  —  The  Willow  Thrush  (^T.  fuscescens  salicuoia),  a 
Rockv  Mountain  form,  occurs  occasionally  in  Illinois  and  casually 
in  South  Carolina. 


4 


b 

b 
w 


v; 


r 


GkAV-(  llEEKKl)   TIIKLSII. 


211 


oi.i\  i:-i;.\cKi:i)   ruRrsH. 


Hcr- 

in  the 
)een 
re  lice. 
[s  its 
o  iind 

in  an 


TLkDis  f.viruvirs  swains* ixii. 

Char.  Above,  olive  ;  beneath,  white,  shatled  with  olive  on  the  sides  ; 
sides  of  head,  neck,  and  breast  tinged  with  l)Ull  ;  throat  and  brca.-t 
spotted  with  olive;  yellowish  ring  around  the  eve.  Length  6*2  to  7'j 
.ichc.«>. 

At'st.     In  a  hnv  tree  or  bush ;  of  twigs,  leaves,  grass,  etc. 

■'^XV-f*     3-4;  greenish  blue  speckled  with  brown  ;  0.90  X  0.65. 

This  species  was  emitted  by  Nuttall.  thoujili  jjivi-n  by  Wilson.  It 
h.is  miiih  the  same  ranu'e  and  similar  habits  as  tiic  Hermit,  tiioiijih 
ditlerip^  in  its  sonij  and  the  location  of  its  nest.  'I"he  tone  of  its 
voice  is  richer  and  roimder  —  more  tlute-like  and  less  metallic  — 
than  that  of  any  other  of  the  small  Thrushes:  but  the  soni;  lacks 
th.it  si)iritual  cjuality  so  conspicuous  in  the  bymnlike  melody  of 
the  Hermit. 

The  Olive-hacked  is  found  throughout  the  temperate  re^^ion  of 
eastern  North  America,  and  westward  to  the  eastern  base  of  the 
Rockies.  It  bret ds  in  northern  New  Knijland  and  northward,  and 
in  the  elevated  portions  of  .Massa«  hu.setts  and  Connecticut,  as  well 
as  in  northern  New  N'ork  and  .Michigan,  and  winters  in  the  (/ulf 
States  and  southward  to  Panama. 

It  is  common  in  the  .Maritime  Provinces,  but  is  reported  rather 
rare  between  .Montreal  and  Lake  Huron,  thouiih  it  beinc;  an  abun- 
dant mijjjrant  through  Ohio,  I  should  expect  to  find  it  plentiful  in 
portions  of  Ontario. 


GRAV-rPTF.r.KKI)  THRUSH. 

ALICE'.^  THRLSH. 
Tlrdls  .\LICL€. 

Char,  .\bove,  olive  ;  cheeks  grayish,  a  whitish  ring  round  the  eyes  ; 
bene.ith,  white  ;  sides  tinged  with  olive ;  throat  and  breast  tinged  with 
buff  and  marked  with  large  dark  spots.     Length  7  to  -j}^  inches. 

-\Vj/.  In  a  low  bush  or  on  the  ground  ;  of  grass  and  leaves,  etc.,  lined 
with  fine  grass. 

E^i^'gs.     3-4 ;  greenish  blue  spotted  with  brown  ;  0.90  X  0.70. 

After  much  contention  as  to  the  validity  of  .-Mice's  Thrush  as  a 
variety  of  the  Olive-backed,  the  systematists  have  decided  to  give  it 


id 

^      !  '      . 

!  >  '  '  ll 


N 


lU 


u 


t, 


h 


SINGINCi   BIRDS. 


spfcirtc  rank.  In  appearance  it  differs  from  s7t.'(iiftsoni/  ch'wfty  in 
Inckin<;  the  yellow  aroiiiul  the  eye,  and  in  ha\in;.j  yray  instead  of 
buff  cheeks.     .Uicitc  is  also  a  triric  the  lar^^er  of  the  two. 

The  distribution  of  the  present  specie.s  has  not  yet  been  thor- 
ouj^hly  worked  out.  for  only  a  few  years  have  |)as>ed  since  its 
di.scover)-;  but  it  is  known  to  occur  in  the  L'nited  .States  and  the 
settled  portions  of  Canada  as  a  mi.L;rant  only,  breeding  north  to 
the  Arctic,  and  wintering  .south  to  Costa  Rica. 


'li      S^ 


BICKN  i:  M.'.S    VW  Rl'SII. 

TlRIUS   AMCI-li    lilCKNKI.I.I. 

Char.  Above,  olive,  varying  from  a  grayish  to  a  russet  tnit ;  winj^s 
and  tail  slightlv  browiur  than  b.jck  ;  (ii>tinct  riiit;  of  pale  buff  .irounil  tlic 
eyes;  thcck-i  l)iifti>l);  l)tni-;ith,  white,  tinged  with  ulive  on  the  >ide>; 
throat  .ind  lirta^t  tingid  with  butT  .itul  ni.irkcd  with  large  dark  >i>ot.s. 
Length  7  to  7'i  inches. 

A'c-'t.  On  the  groiMul.  in  a  thicket ;  composed  of  twigs,  grass,  and  moss, 
lined  with  gmss. 

li.^^s.     3-4  ;  p.-»Ie  blucish  green  speckled  with  brown  ;  0.S5  x  o  65. 

This  variety  of  the  Gray-cheeked  Thrush  was  discovered  by 
Mr.  Ku^v-ne  1'.  Uicknell  amid  the  Catskdl  Mountains  in  1SS5.  It 
has  been  foi:nd  on  all  the  hij^her  ranges  of  Ilastern  .\meriia  and 
in  Illinois,  and  .Mr.  Lamoille  claims  to  have  discovered  the  nest 
on  an  island  off  the  southern  coast  of  Nova  Scotia. 


II 


m 


1 


w\'n:R  THRrsH. 

WATER  WAr.T.MI.. 

Skuris  X( )vf.i!( >ra( :f.\sj>. 

Char.  Above,  deep  olive  brown  ;  line  over  the  eve  whitish:  benc.ith, 
white  tinged  with  bright  yellow,  .ind  spotted  with  olive.  Length  ^'^  to 
6  inches. 

.Vt-st.  On  the  ground,  in  border  of  swamp  or  «tream  ;  bulkv,  and 
loosely  made  of  moss,  leaves,  and  grass.  lined  with  roots.  Sometimes 
deeply  imlxdded  in  moss,  or  covered  with  it. 

/r.vr-  4-^;  white,  spotted,  most  heavily  near  the  larger  end,  with 
brown  and  lilac;  0.75  X  055. 


IV 

ath, 

; 

•j  to 

V, 

:incl 

..f 

inu'S 

d,  with 


\VATER-rnKl>ll. 


2'3 


This  shy  and  retiring  sylvan  species  extends  its  summer 
migrations  throughout  the  L  nited  States,  breeiling  rarely  in 
I'ennsylvania,  i)roceeding  priiuiiially  to  the  western  and 
nortliern  regions  at  the  period  of  ini  uhalion.  Mr.  'lown^end 
an«l  myself  observed  this  bird  in  Oregon,  as  well  as  in  Missouri, 
where  it  was,  no  doubt,  breeiling,  and  sung  m  a  very  lively 
manner,  keeping  in  a  shady  wood  whi(  h  bordered  a  >inall 
stream,  often  descending  to  the  ground  after  aipiatic  insects  or 
larv;f,  and  with  the  tail  in  a  constant  balancing  motion,  re- 
minding us  strongly  of  the  Wagtail  or  Motacilla  of  liuropc. 

l  he  Atiuatic  Ihrush  has,  indeed,  a  i)aiticular  partiality  for 
the  vieinity  of  waters,  wading  in  the  shallow  streams  in  search 
of  insects,  moving  its  tail  as  it  leisurely  folKnvs  its  j)ursuit.  anil 
chattering  as  it  llies.  During  its  transient  migrating  visits  it  is 
very  timid,  and  darts  into  the  thickets  as  soon  as  approat  heil, 
uttering  a  sharp  and  rather  plaintive  A////'  of  .iLirm.  .\l)out 
the  beginning  of  May,  these  birds  appear  in  I'ennsylvania  from 
the  South,  and  stay  around  dark  and  solitary  streams  for  ten 
or  twelve  days,  and  ilien  dis;ii»pear  until  alH)Ut  the  middle  of 
August,  when,  on  their  w,i\-  to  tlu-ir  tr»)|)ical  winter  (|uarters, 
they  leave  the  swamps  and  mountains  of  their  summer  retreat, 
and,  at'trr  again  gleaning  a  transient  subsistence  for  a  few  days 
towanls  the  sea-coast,  depart  for  the  season.  In  Massu  hu- 
setts  they  are  scarcely  ever  seen  except  in  the  autumn,  and 
continue  in  shadv  gardens,  probalily  feeding  on  small  wild 
berries  till   nearly  the  close  of  Septi'inber. 

It  appears,  according  to  Wilson,  that  the  fivorite  resort  of 
this  s|)ecies  is  in  the  cane-lirakes,  swamps,  river  shores,  and 
watery  solitudes  of  Louisiana.  Ti-nnessee,  and  Mississippi. 
Here  it  is  abundant,  and  is  eminently  distinguished  by  the 
loudness,  sweetness,  and  ex]>ressive  vivacity  of  its  notes,  which, 
beginning  high  and  clear,  flow  and  descend  in  a  cadence  so 
delicate  as  to  terminate  in  sounds  that  are  scarcely  audible. 
At  such  times  the  singer  sits  perched  on  some  branch  whi(  h 
stretches  impending  over  the  flowing  stream,  ami  pours  out  hi.; 
charming  melody  with  such  effect  as  to  be  heard  at  tiie  dis- 
tance of  nearly  half  a  mile,  giving  a  peculiar  charm  to  *he  dark 


i:   I 


II 


M 


J  14 


SIXCIXG    HIKDS. 


;"  I 


and  solitary  wilds  lu"  inhabits.  'Ihc  silence  of  ni^dit  is  also,  at 
times,  relieved  liy  the  iiire>s.iiu  warhle  of  tl1i^  Western  I'hilo- 
nul,  \\lii)Ne  \(»i(;e,  hifakini;  \\\»>u  tlic  ear  of  the  lonel)'  traveller 
in  the  wilderness,  seems  like  the  duleet  lay  of  something  super- 
natural. His  sonj;  is  also  heart!  in  the  winter  when  the 
weather  proves  mild.  In  tiiis  habit  he  api)ears  eonsiderably 
allied  to  the  Keed  Thrush  or  River  Nij,Oitingale  of  Murope. 
which  night  and  day  almost  (  ea^>ele.-,sly  sings,  and  soothes  his 
sitting  mate,  among  the  reeds  and  marches  of  his  favorite 
resorts. 

.Since  Nuttall's  dav  tlic  W'atvr  Thrush  has  been  separated  from 
the  true  Thrushes  and  classed  with  the  Warblers.  The  birds  seen 
bv  Wilson  and  Audubon  in  l.ouisiaua.  'I\nuessee.  and  .Mississip]>t 
wcri'  doubtless  referable  to  niotacilla.  for  though  the  present  spe- 
cies is  found  throui,diout  tliis  l'".astern  Province,  west  to  Illinois  and 
Manitoba,  it  seldom  lias  been  diseovi-red  breedini;  south  of  45^.  It 
is  a  rather  (  (Muinon  sj^rinii  and  autumn  visitor  to  Massachusetts, 
and  niav  breed  in  sinall  numbers  on  !he  berkshire  lulls. 

On  tile  plains  the  t\pe  is  replace<l  by  the  variety  named  notal'ilis^ 
—  Gkinnki.i.'s  WAiKU-TftKUSii.  —  which  is  larger  and  darker. 
Notixbilis  occurs  occasiouallv  in  Illinois  and  Indiana. 


if 


LOUISIANA    W.Vn.R     11  IRISH. 

Si  HKIS    MolACII.I.A. 

riiAR.  Similar  tn  ;/('r',7',>n/,v;/.>/V.  but  larger,  :uul  1)111  li)n.i;cr  and  stouter. 
I'lidd-  |>;uls  tiiv^ed  with  htilT.  Iiiit  never  with  brigiil  yellow ;  iluoat  free 
from  spots.     I.eiiiitli    y'l    to  ()K   inches. 

X.st.  On  the  f^uound.  hidden  amid  r<iots  of  fallen  trei',  01  on  a  mos<y 
bank  :  composed  of  Icave-^.  j^rass,  .ind  n.oss,  lined  with  ^i.iss  and  hair. 

/•.Vs'^  4-'';  whili'.  sometimes  with  creamy  tint,  speckled  with  brown 
and  lilac;  075  Xodo. 

The  rang^  of  this  species  extends  from  southern  New  I'ngland. 
the  C.reat  La..es.  and  .Minnesota  (in  summer)  to  the  Oulf  States 
and  Central  Aineiira  (in  winter)-  A  few  pairs  are  seen  every  rea- 
son in  .southern  Ontario.  Its  habits  do  not  differ  from  those  of  its 
congener. 


nt: 


and, 
at  OS 
;.ea- 
if  its 


OVF.N-Blkf# 

GOLDF^N-CROVVXtW   T39KUSH. 
SkU  RL>.     VLftm.  ■ 

Char.  Above,  olive  :  crown  oran;;«t -!')«'')•»  t.,  Wrdercd  with  black  stripes, 
white  riiip;  .iioiiiul  the  eyes;  hcnear&v  wlblt- ♦^J.^otted  with  olive.  lAii,t;th 
5'.'  to  ()l2  iiH  hcs. 

Ai-st.  On  the  uroiuul,  at  the  t'uof  iH  .»  Wnit  t>r  in  the  moss  on  a  ficravcfl 
loq  ;  rather  li>..-e!y  made  of  twigs,  !rr&M^„ utart-s.  and  innss.  lined  with  fine 
grass  and  hair.  The  top  is  often  comprittidh-  rwrfrd.  vimiiinies  art  lied  or 
domed;  the  entrance  on  the  -.idc. 

/ij^gs.     ■\-(>;  creamy  white,  spotted  wiiB&i  8ai56<«  n  and  lilac;  0..S0X0.55. 

This  ratluT  coninmn  hinl.  o  rjr:;rly  allied  to  ilir  irue 
Thnishi's.  is  fotiii'l  throiiijhotit  the-  tk'j«f st*- of  the  rnitcd  .^latcs, 
Canada,  and  in  the  territory  c{  r>rTi;on  (Jurinfj  the  siiinnur, 
arriving  in  the  Middle  and  Northetrm)  Malts  abotn  the  beginning 
of  >Fay  or  close  of  April,  .in<l  ftepUir,;iiL'  for  tropical  .\ni<.ri(  a, 
Mexico,  and  the  larger  West  Irnlui  .tr.'ijmis  early  in  Septt  nilter. 

The  Ciolden-crowned  Thnish„  th^*  naati  retiring,  is  never  r^een 
out  of  the  >had<'  of  the  wood-.  .;'.«(!!  ir4ls  and  nnis  along  the 
ground  often  like  the  I. ark;  in  .u;<.j  fff-t'quenis  the  brandies  of 
trees,  and  soinelinies  moves  it*  Liiii  m  tiii-  manner  of  tin-  N\  ag- 
tails.  It  has  lew  j)retension.s  to  "WMUg.  ami  while  perched  in 
the  dee])  and  shady  part  of  the  fio«rr«L,  il  utters,  at  intervals,  a 
simple,  long,  reiterated  note  of  Vi^>iV  /^«y  fshr  tshr  fshr,  rising 
from  low  to  high  and  shrill.  io  a.*  to  ipiif  but  little  idea  of  the 
distance  or  place  from  whence  that  vtp^iwl  jtroceeds,  and  ofu  n 
appearing,  from  the  loudness  of  ch«r  diiurixmg  cadence,  to  be  uiiu  u 


•r 


i  I 


Hi 


2l6 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


nearer  than  it  really  is.  As  soon  as  discovered,  like  the  Wood 
Thrush,  it  darts  at  once  timidly  into  the  de])ths  of  its  sylvan 
retreat.  During  the  periotl  of  incubation,  the  deliberate  lay 
of  the  male,  from  some  horizontal  branch  of  the  forest  tree, 
where  it  often  sits  usually  still,  is  a  ^ts/ic  tc  tshc  t?  tslic  tc  fs/icc. 
gradually  rising  and  growing  louder.  Towards  dusk  in  the 
evening,  however,  it  now  anil  then  utters  a  sudden  burst  of 
notes  with  a  short,  agreeable  warble,  whi(  h  terminates  com- 
monly in  the  usual  'fs/w  tc  fs/u\  Its  curious  oven-shape<l  nest 
is  known  to  all  the  sportsmen  who  traverse  the  solitary  wilds 
which  it  inhabits,  'i'his  ingenious  fabric  is  sunk  a  little  into  the 
ground,  and  generally  situated  on  some  dry  and  mossy  bank 
contiguous  to  bushes,  or  on  an  uncleared  surface  ;  it  is  formed, 
with  great  neatness,  of  dry  blades  of  grass,  and  lined  with  the 
same  ;  it  is  then  surmounted  by  a  thi(  k  inclined  roof  of  simi- 
lar materials,  the  surface  scattered  with  leaves  and  twigs  so  as 
to  match  the  rest  of  the  ground,  and  an  entrance  is  left  at  the 
side.  Near  Milton  liills.  in  this  vit  inity,  the  situation  chosen 
was  among  low  wlu)rtleberry  bushes,  in  a  stimted  cedar  and 
oak  grow.  W  hen  surprised,  the  bird  escapes,  or  runs  from  the 
nest  with  the  silence  and  celerity  of  a  mouse.  If  an  attem])t 
be  made  to  (b^(  omt  the  nest  from  which  she  is  lliislu-d,  she 
stops,  flutters,  and  jjretends  lameness,  and  watching  the  success 
of  the  mancjuuvre,  at  length,  when  the  decoy  seems  complete, 
she  takes  to  wing  and  disappears.  The  Oven  liird  i->  another 
of  the  foster-parents  sonn-times  chosen  by  the  Cow 'IVoopial  ; 
and  she  rears  the  foundling  with  her  accustomed  care  and 
affection,  and  keeps  up  an  incessant  f<Ji!f>  when  her  unfledged 
brood  are  even  distantly  approached.  Tiv  >.e  binU  have  often 
two  broods  in  a  season  in  the  Middlr  States.  Their  food  is 
wholly  insects  and  their  1  irv;e,  ])articularly  small  coleojiterous 
kinils  and  ants,  chielly  collected  on  the  ground. 

'I'hr  Oven-bird,  likt-  the  \V;iter-TIirusli,  has  licrii  n.-aiovi'd  by 
modirn  authorities  from  elassitiealion  with  tlie  'i'luaish  family  .uid 
placed  with  tlie  Warblers.  It  is  now  known  to  breed  from  X'iririnia 
and  Kansas  to  bal)ra(lor  and  Manitol);i.  It  is  abundant  in  M.issa- 
chusetts  and  the  Marit/ne  Provinces,  and  conunon  over  its  entire 
range.     It  winters  in  llorida  and  as  far  .south  as  Central  America. 


ess 
■to, 
ur 
al; 
n.l 

ti'ti 

is 
rolls 


hy 
.111(1 
ini.i 
ss;i- 
itire 

1. 


MYRTLE   WAKlJLER. 


21 


MVRTI.F.   WARr.I.KR. 

YELLOW-RUMP   WAKIU.KK.     VEI.LOW-CKOWXED   WARRLER. 

1)1  NhkOlCA    tOKONAlA. 

Thar.  >rale:  above,  l)lui>li  gray  streaked  with  Mack;  sides  of  lu-ad 
black;  brca>t  and  sid^s  mostly  black;  patches  of  yellow  on  crown  and 
rump  and  sides  of  l)rcast  ;  throat  and  belly  white  ;  wing-bars  and  patches 
on  tail  white.  Female,  young,  and  male  in  winter:  similar,  but  the  back 
with  a  tint  of  brown  in  place  of  blue,  and  all  cfjlors  duller,  and  markings 
less  distinct.     Length  510  6  inches. 

AVj/.  In  a  coniferous  tree  5  to  10  feet  from  the  ground,  in  a  pasture  or 
open  grove  of  woodland;  ci>m|)o.<ed  of  twigs  and  gr.i>s,  lincil  with  fine 
gras.s,  sometimes  with  feathers. 

AVs'-f-  4-5  :  'I"'l  while  or  creamy  white.  s])otted  chietly  around  the 
larger  end  with  brown  and  lil.ic  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

Tlu'  history  of  this  rather  coiiimoii  Warbler  rem.iins  verv 
imperfert.  In  the  MicMle  and  N'orthirn  States  it  is  .1  hiril  of 
passage,  arrivint:  from  the  South  .il)out  [Uv  <  iosr  of  .\|>ril  or 
beuimiiiii,'  of  M.iy.  and  |>roeecdin,i,'  north  as  f.ir  as  ("aiiada  .ind 
Labrador  to  ]»ass  the  summer  season  in  the  ( ,ires  of  bri'e'linj; 
and  rearing  the  yonnti,  .\s  e;trly  as  the  v'di  oi  .Xiiunst.  or  after 
an  absence  of  Uttle  more  than  three  months,  thesr  binls  ai:ain 
appear:  :Mid  beinti  hardy,  passing  parties  continue  with  ^l■^  in 
g.inh'ns  anil  woods  till  about  the  (lose  ot"  NoMinber,  teeding 
now  almost  exclusively  on  the  myrtle-wix  berries  (  )/\//(<i  crri- 
Ji  111),  or  on  those  of  the  \irginian  juniper.  I  he--r.  other  late 
and  persisting  berries,  and  oc<asional  insects,  constitute  tluir 
winter  food  in  the  Sfjuthern  States,  when-,  in  consiilerable  num- 
bers, in  the  swamps  and  slu'liere<l  grows  of  tiu'  si-a-coiist,  ihey 
pass  the  cold  season.  In  fine  weather,  in  the  early  part  of  Oc- 
tober, fliey  may  be  seen,  at  tinus,  collecting  grasshoppers  anfl 
moths  from  the  meadows  and  iiastiires,  and,  like  the  lllur  llird, 
they  often  w.itch  for  the  ap|)earance  of  thi  ir  prey  from  a  neigh- 
boring stake,  low  bough,  or  fence-rail  ;  ami  at  this  time  are  so 
familiar  and  iinsuspi<  ions,  particularly  the  yotmg,  as  fearlessly 
to  .approach  ahnost  within  the  rea<h  of  the  silent  spectat»»r.     .\t 


2l8 


SINLlINt;    I5IKDS. 


the  1-  'lod  of  migni:iun,  they  aiJjK-ar  in  an  alicr  -d  ivu\  U's< 
briiliant  dress.  'l"hc  bright  yellow  spot  on  die  crown  is  :\o\\ 
cdL^ed  with  brownish  olive,  so  that  the  prevailing  eoit-r  -M'  ilii, 
beamiful  mark  is  only  ^een  on  shcdtling  the  feathers  with  the 
hand  ;  a  brownish  tint  is  also  added  lo  die  whole  i)lumage.  Hut 
Wilson's  figure  of  diis  NUi>po>ed  autunuial  change  only  repre- 
sents the  young  bird.  The  old  i>,  m  fut,  but  little  less  brilliant 
than  in  stunmer,  and  I  have  a  well-tounded  sii.-^itieiiMi  that  the 
wearing  of  tiie  edges  of  the  feather-^,  or  some  other  seeon<laiy 
cause,  alone  produces  this  change  in  the  livery  of  spring,  par- 
lie  ularly  as  it  is  not  any  sexual  distinction. 

While  feeding  they  are  very  active,  in  the  manner  of  I'ly- 
catchers.  hovering  among  the  cedars  and  m\  rtles  with  hanging 
wings,  and  only  rest  when  satisfied  with  gleaning  food.  In 
spring  they  are  ^lill  more  timid,  busy,  and  restless.  According 
to  Audubon,  the  nest  and  eggs  are  scan  ely  to  be  distinguished 
from  those  of  .SV/r/i?  os/ira;  one  wlv.  h  he  examined  from 
Nova  Scotia  was  made  in  the  extremity  of  the  branch  if  .\  lt>w 
fir-tree,  about  fwii  feet  from  the  ground.  When  approuhed, 
or  while  feeding,  they  only  utter  a  feeble,  plaintive  A///>  of 
alarm.  This  beautifid  •>pecies  arrives  lure  about  the  7th  or 
8lh  of  May,  and  now  «  hieily  frequents  the  orchards,  tittering 
at  short  inter\-als,  in  the  morning,  a  swid  and  \an"  i,  rather 
lil.uniive  warble,  resembling  in  j'irt  the  s-mg  of  the  Summer 
Yellow  bird,  but  much  more  the  firewill,  solitary  autiunnal 
notes  of  the  Roliin  Redbreast  ..."  liurope.  'J'he  tones  at  times 
are  also  so  ventrilo>|uial  and  \  '  \v  in  eleN.uion  diat  it  is  not 
always  ea>y  to  ascertain  the  spot  whence  tluy  jjitx  ee<l.  W  hile 
thus  engaged  in  tpiol  of  small  caterpillars,  the  Myrtle  seems 
almost  insensible  to  obtrusion,  and  familiarl)'  searches  for  its 
jjrey,  imwever  near  we  may  approach. 

The  "  Yellow-rump  "  — by  which  n.ime  this  species  is  best  known 
—  brLTtis  rcgul.iily  troni  iiortlieni  New  I'.uglaiul  northward  and 
west  to  .Manitoba;  .ilso  011  du-  IJerksiiirc  hills  in  Massachusetts. 
It  i.s  an  almndaiu  suinuK-r  residc-nt  of  the  Maritime  I'rovinces,  but 
elsewhere,  in  the  st.-ttU-d  portions  of  Canada,  occurs  as  a  migrant 
only.  It  winters  re:,;ularlv  in  Mas.N.ichusett.s  anil  central  Uhiu,  and 
iht'ii-e  soulliw.ud  a^  iar  .is  Central  .\mcriea. 


Vi:i.l.(>\\     I'AI.M    WAklli  KU. 


2IQ 


mi; 
In 


VKLI,(MV     PAI.M     WARBLf.R. 

VF.I.I.oW     KKD-I'OI.L   WAUIJI.KK. 
Dl.MikOKA    rAI.MAKl  M    ll\  I't  )(_M1<VSKA. 

Cir\R.  Ahovc.  Iirownisl)  olive  :  rump  yellowisli,  clii«ikv  streaks  on  the 
had:;  crown  rliLstiuit ;  lim-  ovir  ivc  and  untln  p.irt^  ricli  vtilxw;  brL-a^t 
and  sides  strirakcd  witli  hiown  ;  no  wliitc  wing  bars;  ^ijuarc  pati  he*  of 
wliitf  on  outer  tail-fcatl.crs.  Adult  in  winter  an<i  young  ;  .similar  but 
colors  dulltr,  anil  markings  less  distinct;  undcrparts  grayi.>ii  yellow, 
Lcn};tii  5  to  5 ''4    inciics. 

At.t/.  *  >n  till  nioiuul  on  border  ot  ><vvamp ;  lousciy  made  of  gr.u»s, 
weeds,  and  uii»s  ia.*lened  with  caltrpillai's  mIk,  iined  wiiii  roots,  liair, 
pinc-nccdlch,  ur  Icailiers. 

/•-"vv.  4-5;  creamy  white,  sometinio  with  io>eate  tiii^c,  inarki  d  on 
larger  end  with  line  sputa  ut  brown  and  lil.ic ;  0.65    »;  0.50. 

'I'hc  \  rlli)\v  l\i(l-polls  in  small  numbers  anivi-  in  tlu  Miildle 
and  NorilKin  Stall's  in  ihr  monih  ut"  A|iril  :  man\  i'ri>(fr«l  as 
far  as  Labrador,  wlicir  thrv  wi-ri'  snii  in  Ntimnur  1)\  \iidnb<in. 
and  in  tlu'  month  of  An,i,nist  tlu-  voimi^  were  generally  Hedged. 
In  the  Sonihern  States  they  are  abundant  in  wintt  r.  While 
luTe,  like  many  other  transient  passeniier*  of  the  fitnily.  they 
a])])ear  e\tremi!y  busy  in  (jtiest  of  their  restless  in>e«  t  prey. 
The)  iVeiineiil  low,  swampy  thickets,  are  rare,  an<l  their  few 
feeble  notes  are  said  scarceh'  to  deser\»'  th«'  name  of  ;  -".mg. 
Tlu'se  straiiulers  remain  all  summer  in  i'ennsylvani  1,  bat  ihe 
nest  is  niiknown.  1  hey  depart  in  September  or  early  i'^  '  rto- 
ber.  and  some  probabh'  winter  in  the  s(»nthernmost  St>,.es,  as 
they  were  met  with  in  {•'e])niarv.  bv  \N'iI>on.  near  >  .v  .''.'.jah, 
'I'his  is  a  dilferent  speeies  from  the  Palm  Warbler,  which  pro!.- 
ably  does  not  exist  in  the  United  State.-,. 

This  bird  apjiears  yet  to  be  very  little  known.  Penn  ml  has 
most  strangely  blended  \\\)  its  description  with  that  of  the 
Rnby-(  idwned  Wren  I  his  supposed  female  being  precisely 
that  bird. 

Tlio  i'.asterii  form  of  tlic  i'.iliii  W.irMcr  is  a  common  l>irfl  lr<«<n 
till'  Atlantic  to  the  .Mississijipi  v.illey,  where  it  is  r^  pi. iced  by  true 
piilntiinoiu  and  is  abuiulant  in  suintuer  in  northern  .Mtine  aiui 
New  Mrunswick. 


li 


2  20 


SINGINC;   BIRDS. 


Mr.  NeiLson  thinks  it  uncommon  near  Dornald,  Quebec,  and 
says  he  never  sees  a  specimen  hiter  than  June  1st.  Dr.  Whealon 
has  reported  it  as  a  comnKjn  miiirant  tiuouj;!)  Ohio,  hut  it  is  re- 
ported rare  in  ( )ntari((.  NntlaH's  statement,  borrowed  from  Wilson, 
that  some  remained  in  I'enn.sylvania  durini;  the  i)reetbng  season, 
has  not  been  contirmed  by  more  recent  observations. 

In  habits  this  species  stands  pecuhar.     lUHke  other  DcndroiKP, 

it  nests  on  the  ground,  aiul  unhke  most  other  Warblers,  shows  a 

stroni,'  preference  for  fields  and  road-sides,  where  it  may  be  found 

hoppin<i  alon^  with  the  Sparrows,  and  Hirtiiiij  its  tail  like  a  Titlark. 

The  song  is  a  very  simple  affair,  —  a  few  sweet  notes. 


Note.  — The  Pai  m  Wakiii.ku  yDeiithouu  paltnanim)  differs 
from  hyf>ochrysiij  in  being  smaller  and  nuicii  duller  colored.  It 
breeds  in  Manitoba  and  northward,  and  winters  in  tiie  Southern 
States.      .\  few  examples  have  been  seen  in  the  Eastern  States. 

Ai;i)fHO\'s  Wakiii.i.k  {Dciuiroica  aiuiuhoiii).  though  a  bird  of 
the  W'eslern  I'lains.  has  a  right  to  mention  here  through  e.\aniples 
having  been  taken  in  .Massachusetts  and  Pennsylvania. 


VF.I.r.OW    WARP.I.F.R. 

SL'.MMKK    VKLLOW   BIKD.     SLMMKR    WARBLER. 
1>>FM»K(UCA    .1>JI\A. 

Char.  Male:  general  eolur  golden  yelldw,  upper  p.-trts  tinned  with 
olive;  !>ri  a.>t  riiid  >i<irs  strc.iked  witli  orange  hmwn  Fetnale :  siiuilar, 
but  iipj)cr  j  irf-i  with  deeper  tinge  <>f  olive,  antl  under  parts  witli  Ies.s 
.streaks.     I.(  tijjth  4''^  to  5 '4  inches. 

^\V.' '.  Oil  a  liiisl)  «).-  !  .w  tree,  in  a  garden  or  npcii  pasture;  gracefully 
formed  aii<l  compaciiy  woven,  of  v.Triou>  veuet;ii)le  tilires,  —  grass,  steins, 
etc.  —  us  ..illy  lined  with  hair  or  plant  down,  sometitncs  with  feathers. 

/v.,  !•  3-5;  did!  white  or  greenish  white,  marked  chietly  around  the 
larger  erd  with  brown  .ind  lilac  ;  0.65  X  0.-15. 

This  very  common  and  brilliant  sinnmer  species  is  fount!  in 
all  parts  of  the  American  rontincnt.  from  the  confines  of  the 
Arctic  circle  n  Florida  and  'i'l-xas.  as  well  as  Oregon  and  the 
Ro(  ky  Moimtains,  where  it  spends  the  mild  season.  .Mxjiit 
the   miiidle  of  March    1    alre.id\    heard   the   song   amidst   the 


\ 


! 


YKLI.OW    WAKI'.I.KR. 


221 


lie 


i-arly  Ijlooniinj,'  thickets  and  leafy  \v(kj(Is  of  the  Altamaha  :  but 
the  birds  do  not  arrive  in  Pennsylvania  and  this  part  of  New 
Miiglaiid  belori'  tlie  ist  of  May.  AlH>iit  the  close  of  .\ugu»t  in 
the  Northern,  and  by  the  inid<lle  of  Sejuember  in  the  Central 
States  of  the  I'nion,  or  as  soon  as  their  s»i  ond  broo«l  are  ( .lia- 
ble of  joining  the  migrating  Iio>it,  they  di>a|)pear,  probabl)  in 
the  twihght,  and  wing  their  way  by  easy  stages  to  their  trop- 
ical destination,  parsing  tlirough  Louisiana  in  O  tol>er  and 
appearing  at  length  about  Vera  Cruz,  whence  they  >prcad  their 
numerous  ho^t  ilirough  tropical  America  to  ( iuiana,  Cayenne, 
St.  Domingo,  and  other  of  the  larger  contiguous  inlands  of  the 
West  Indies. 

This  is  a  very  lively,  unsuspicious,  and  almost  familiar  little 
bird,  and  its  l)right  gcjiden  color  renders  it  vcr\  con^jucuous, 
as  in  |)ursuit  of  tlitting  insects  it  pries  and  ilans  among  the 
blooming  shrubs  and  orchards.  It  is  particularly  attached  to 
willow-trees  and  other  kinds  in  moist  and  sha<ly  >ituations,  that 
afford  tills  ami  other  species  a  variety  of  small  lan-:c  and  <Mter- 
])lllars,  on  w(ii<  h  they  il<  light  to  (vt'd.  While  incessantly  am! 
busily  employed  it  oci  aslonally  mounts  the  twig,  am!  with  a 
loud,  shrill,  and  almost  piercing  voice  it  earnestly  utters,  at  >-hort 
and  Irregular  intervals,  —  V\//'  '/»//'  'A//'  "A//'  7>7/«//e/,  or  A//<-  /s/tt' 
till  tslutyia  tslic  /</ir  :  tills  last  phrase  rather  |)laintivc  am!  inter- 
rogatory, as  if  expei  ting  tin-  recf)gnitlon  of  its  mate.  .Smie- 
times,  but  particularly  after  tlu'  < ommincement  of  incubation, 
a  more  extended  an<l  pUasingly  modulated  -"■  -  heard,  as  se 
te  If  fsJii/s/too,  or  A//'  A//'  /»/''  tshrrfs/ioo,  7  •  '/shr  'fshoo 

'ptrt.<luc,  and  't<hc  't^hc  '/.</ir  ' tslir  'tshaia  ' tshif  :  the  ter- 

mination tender,  plalntivi,  an<l  solicitous.  I  have  heanl  this 
note  also  sometimes  varied  lo  ' u>if  ' \oif  'saii  'st>it*tsfti/^  d  7i>t<'. 
The  female  sometimes  sings  nearly  a>  well  as  the  male,  partic- 
ul.irly  about  the  timi'  sh.e  is  eng;:gen  m  fabricatinj;  her  nest. 
.Although  the  song  of  these  birds  may  be  heard,  less  vigorou>ly» 
to  the  month  of  .\ug»ist.  yet  they  do  not  here  appear  to  raise 
more  tlian  a  single  brood. 

Tlu>  nest,  in  .\lassa(  hust  tts,  is  commonly  fixc-d  ?n  the  forks 
of  a  barberry  bush,  (lose  shntb,  or  sapling,  a  few  feet  from  the 


-»•»-> 


SINCING    r.IKDS. 


if    .. 


gTouml ;  at  o«her  times.  I  have  known  tlir  nest  placed  upon  the 
horizontal  bran<  li  of  a  hornlnani.  more  than  15  feet  from 
the  gruH!in<l,  or  even  50  k-ct  hii;h  in  ihc  forks  of  a  thick  sugar- 
mapk-  Mr  orchard  tree.  These  l(;fty  situations  are,  however, 
extraonliiiur)" ;  and  the  httle  architects,  in  instances  of  this 
kind,  >oniciinies  fail  of  l,m\  iiiL,'  the  usual  security  to  their  habita- 
tion. 'Ilic  ncM  is  extremely  neat  and  durable  ;  the  exterior  is 
formed  of  byers  of  .luVr/>/(is,  or  silk- weed  lint,  glutinously 
though  «>lightly  attached  to  the  supporting  twigs,  mixed  with 
some  slender  stri))s  of  fme  bark  and  pint'  lea\es,  and  thickly 
beddcfl  with  the  down  of  willows,  the  nankeen-wool  of  the  Vir- 
ginian cotJon-gras>.  tin  down  of  fi'in-stalks,  tin-  hair  from  the 
downy  acc^h  of  the  buttonwood  ( /'Ar/it/zus),  or  the  pa|tpiis  of 
compound  flowers:  and  the  lined  litlur  with  fine-bent  grass 
(y4i^n>s/ij)f  or  down,  and  horse-hair,  and  rarely  with  a  few  acci- 
dental feathers,  ("ircmnstances  sometimes  re(|uire  a  variation 
from  the  iiMial  ha1)its  of  the  species.  In  a  garden  in  Roxbur)', 
in  the  vicinity  of  IJosion,  I  saw  a  nest  built  in  a  currant-bush, 
in  a  small  panlen  very  near  to  the  housi' ;  and  as  the  branch 
did  not  present  the  ]>roper  site  of  security,  a  large  floor  of  «lry 
grass  and  wee<3s  wa^  first  made  betwixt  it  and  a  contiguous 
board  fence:  in  the  midst  of  this  mass  of  extraneous  materials, 
the  small  ne«  was  excavated,  then  lined  with  a  considerable 
f|uinttty  of  white  horse-hair,  and  finished  with  an  interior  bed 
of  soft  cow-hair.  The  season  [)roving  wet  and  stormy,  the 
nest  in  this  novel  situation  fell  over,  but  was  carried,  with  the 
yotmg  to  a  safe  situation  near  the  j)ia/.za  of  the  house,  where 
the  parents  now  fetl  and  reared  their  brood.  The  lal)or  of 
forming  the  nest  sec-ms  often  wholly  to  ile\olve  on  the  female. 
On  the  lothof  May  I  observed  one  of  these  industrious  matrf»ns 
busily  t-n2..iire<fl  with  lu-r  fibric  in  a  low  barberry  bush,  and  by 
the  even inj:  of  the  second  day  the  whole  was  completed,  to  the 
lining,  which  was  made,  at  length,  of  hair  and  willow  down,  of 
which  she  collected  and  carried  mouthfuls  so  large  that  she 
often  appeare*!  almost  like  a  mass  of  flying  cot  on,  and  far  ex- 
cee'ied  in  indiistr\-  her  active  neighbor,  the  Baltimore,  who 
was  also  engage<i  in  collect mg  the  same  materials.     Notwith- 


1 


it  .  i 


Yl.i.Low   \\Aki;i.hK. 


22  \ 


standing  this  industry,  the  conipk'tion  ot'  the  nest,  with  thi>  and 
othrr  sill, ill  l)ird>,  is  sonictiint's  stran;;cly  protra*  led  or  n«)t  ini- 
nu'diaiily  rt.<iuirc'd.  Vet  occasionally  I  have  found  the  egps 
of  this  species  inipruvidently  laid  on  the  j^'round.  It  i»  anitir>- 
inj^  to  observe  the  >aj,M(:ity  of  this  littK-  bird  in  ili>|»o>ing  of  tlie 
egjj;s  of  the  vagrant  and  para^itif  Cow  Troopial.  The  egp.  de- 
positeij  before  the  laxing  of  the  rightful  tenant.  t«X)  large  for 
ejectment,  is  ingeniously  incarcerated  in  the  l»ottom  <»f  the 
nest,  and  a  new  lining  placed  aliove  it,  so  that  it  i>  never 
hat<  hed  to  prove  the  dragon  of  the  brood.  Two  instanris  of 
this  kind  oc<  urred  to  the  obsen'ation  of  my  frii-nd  Mr.  Charles 
I'ickering  ;  and  in  iS^^  1  obtained  a  ne>t  with  the  adventi- 
tious egg  about  two  thirds  buried,  the  upper  edge  only  being 
visible,  so  that  in  many  inst  in<  es  it  is  probable  that  thi^  >i)c- 
cies  csca|ics  from  the  unpleasant  imposition  of  l>eromi'ig  a 
nurse  to  the  sable  orphan  of  the  Cow  iJird.  She  however 
acts  faithfully  the  i)art  of  a  foster-parent  when  the  egg  i»  laid 
after  her  own. 

I  have  heard  of  two  instances  in  which  three  of  the  Yellow 
Bird's  own  eggs  were  covered  alotig  with  that  of  the  Cow 
IJlackbird.  In  a  third,  after  a  Ilia*  kbird's  egg  had  been  tints 
concealed,  a  second  was  laid,  wliii  h  was  similarly  treated,  thus 
finally  giving  rise  to  a  three-storied  nest. 

The  Summer  Wllow  liird,  to  attrac:t  attention  from  its  nest, 
when  sitting,  or  when  the  nest  contains  young,  sometimes 
feigns  lameness,  hanging  its  tail  and  head,  and  tluitering  feebly 
along,  in  the  i)ath  of  the  spectator;  at  other  times,  when  cer- 
tain that  the  intrusion  had  ]iroved  harmless,  the  bird  would 
only  go  C":'  a  few  feet,  uiUT  a  feeble  complaint,  or  remain 
wholly  silent,  and  almost  instantly  resume  her  seat.  The  male, 
as  in  many  other  species  of  the  genus,  jjrecedes  a  little  the  arri- 
\-al  of  his  mate.  Towards  the  latter  end  of  summer  the  young 
and  old  feed  much  on  jui(  y  fruits,  as  mulberries,  cornel  berries, 
and  other  kinds. 


m: 


224  SIN(;iN(;    MIKDS. 

MAC.NOMA    WARllI-KR. 

BLACK    AND    VKLLOW    WAKIILEK. 
DUNUkUlLA    MALLI.USA. 

Ch  \k.  Male  :  upper  parts'hhn  k.  the  feathers  cil^ed  with  olive;  rum|- 
yellow;  crown  ash,  Ijnnkrctl  by  hl.itk  ami  wiiitc  ;  beneath,  rich  yellow, 
thitkly  spotted  on  breast  and  sides  with  black;  white  patch  01,  .'>nos 
4iid  on  all  but  middle  tail  feathers.  Female:  similai,  but  colors  di^wjr. 
and  back  sometimes  entirely  olive.     l^n;;th  5'4  inches. 

.\'  -t.  On  a  li'ni/iiiital  branch  of  spru<e<>r  fir,  usually  3  to  6  feet  from 
the  uround,  but  sonietinio  hij^lur  ;  niaile  nf  twi^s  and  gra.ss,  lined  with 
fine  black  roots. 

E^^<.  4-5;  creamy  white,  spotted  with  lilac  and  several  shades  of 
brown  ;  0.60  X  0.50. 

This  ran-  and  iR-autilul  species  is  occasionally  seen  in  \ cry 
small  numbers  in  the  S(jui1utii,  .MitMle.  ami  Northern  States,  in 
the  spring  season,  on  its  w.iy  to  it>  Northern  breeding-places. 
In  Massachusetts  I  have  seen  it  in  this  vi«  inity  about  the  mid- 
dle of  May.  Its  return  to  the  .South  is  probably  made  through 
the  western  interior,  —  a  route  so  generally  trav«lied  by  most  of 
our  birds  of  |)ass  ige  at  this  season  ;  in  i  onseciuence  of  whit  h 
they  are  not  mrt  with,  or  but  very  rarely,  in  the  .Atlantic  States 
in  autimm.  In  this  season  theyha\e  been  seen  at  sea  off  the 
island  of  Jamai<  a,  and  have  been  met  with  also  in  Hispaniola, 
whither  they  retire  to  p.iss  the  winter.  Like  all  the  rest  of  the 
genus,  stimulate"!  b\  the  unciuiet  propensity  to  migritv,  they 
juss  only  a  few  days  with  us,  and  appear  perpetually  employed 
in  i>ursuing  or  searching  out  their  active  insi(  t  prey  or  larv;e  ; 
antl  while  thus  engaged,  uttrr  only  a  few  chirping  notes.  The 
Magnolia  has  a  shrill  song,  more  than  usually  i)rotracted  on  the 
api»roa(  h  of  wet  weather,  so  that  the  Indians  bestow  upon  it 
the  name  of  Ritin  Bird.  .According  to  .\udubon.  tnany  of 
these  birds  breed  in  M aim-  and  the  iJritish  I'rovimes.  as  w<ll 
as  in  l.;ibrador,  and  <\ttnd  their  summer  residence  to  the 
banks  of  the  .Saskatchewan.    They  have  also  a  clear  .ind  sweetly 

modulated  song. 

Althotigh  rare  in  the  I'nited  States,  it  appears,  according  to 
Richardson,  that  this  eleg.int   species  is  a  common  bird  on  the 


MAi.NoLIA    WAKULKK. 


225 


,  :f  ; 

he 

tin- 

)ii  it 

of 

w.ll 

the 

■•etlv 


banks  of  the  S,isk.'it<  hewan,  where  it  is  as  f  iniiliar  as  the  coin- 
inon  Suimner  \  ellow  llinl  (.V.  us/trti),  \vhi«  h  it  also  resemMes 
clor>ely  in  its  manners  and  in  it>  breeclini;  >tation,  but  is  ^ilteil 
with  a  more  varied  and  agreeable  song.  It  fre«|Ments  the 
thiekets  of  young  spnice-trees  and  willows,  Hitting  tVom  bram  h 
to  branch,  at  no  great  distance  from  the  grouiul,  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  capture  of  wingeil  insects,  whieh  now  constitute 
its  prin(  ipal  fare. 

The  Magnolia  is  not  so  rare  a  bird  as  Nuttal!  sujjpnscd.  —  iiulocd, 
it  is  common  everywhere  between  tlie  Atlaiitie  and  the  ea>ttTn 
base  of  the  Koekies.  breeding  in  northern  New  bii^land  an<l  in 
tile  northern  portions  ol  New  York.  Oiiio,  .md  Michigan,  aiul 
theme  to  Lal)rador  and  Great  Slave  Lake.  It  also  l)reeds  ••  louth- 
w.utl  along  tile  crests  oi  the  AUeghanics  to  I'enn.syivaiu  1 ' 
(Cli.ipman). 

It  winters  in  Central  America,  Cub.i,  and  the  liahamas. 

In  its  habits  this  bird  combines  the  CreejKJr  and  the  Ilyeatiher 
in  true  Warbler  fashion,  piekinji;  insects  and  larva'  from  the  i.ran- 
nies  of  the  bark  and  troni  the  leaves,  and  capturing  on  the  wing  the 
flying  mites.  Tlie  favorite  nesting  .site  Is  the  horder  of  a  wood 
or  an  open  pasture,  though  I  have  found  nests  in  the  deep  forest, 
usually  on  the  m.irgin  of  an  open  glade. 

'liie  soni;  is  Warhhr-like  in  its  simplicity,  yet  is  an  attr.ntive 
melody,  the  tones  sweet  and  musical. 

Nuttall's  idea  that  the  autumn  ronte  of  migration  taken  by  more 
northern  breeding  birds  lies  sonu-where  to  the  westward  of  New 
l!n'4land.  is  n<it  (onsistent  with  more  recent  observation  ;  for  while 
it  is  true  that  large  numbers  follow  the  valley  of  the  .Mississippi.  — 
some  of  them  crossing  to  the  .Atlantic  when  south  of  the  AUegha- 
nics.—  it  has  also  been  ascertained  that  immense  flights  of  birds 
that  brei-d  in  the  interior  go  southward  .don^  the  lo.ist-line.  Many 
si)ecies  that  are  not  seen  in  New  Kngland  during  the  spring  migra- 
tion arc  abundant  in  the  autumn. 


VOL.   i.  —  15 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER, N.Y.  )4580 

(716)  873-4503 


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226 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


'■i 

'tt 

i* 

I! 


:i;, 


ft 

I: 


CAPE   MAY  WARBLER. 

Dendk( MCA   IK ;rixa. 

Char.  Male :  back  yellowisli  olive,  with  darker  spots ;  crown  blackish; 
ear-jialch  chestnut;  line  from  bill  around  the  eyes  biuck;  rump  yellow, 
wing-bars  white  and  fused  into  one  large  patch  ;  white  blotches  on  three 
pairs  of  tail-feathers  ;  beneath,  yellow  tinged  with  orange  on  chin  and 
throat,  spottctl  with  black  un  breast  antl  sides.  P'cmale  :  similar,  but 
back  grayish,  and  lacking  distinctive  marking  on  head  ;  under  parts  paler  ; 
spots  on  wings  and  tail  smaller  or  obscure.     Length  about  5  inches. 

A'c'sf.  In  a  i)asture  (jr  open  woodland,  on  low  branch  of  small  trci  ;  a 
neat,  cup-shaped  structure,  partially  pensile,  com))osed  of  twigs  and  grass 
fastened  with  spider's  webbing,  lined  with  horse-hair. 

Av,;'^-*'-  3-4  ;  dull  white  or  bulTy,  slightly  specked,  and  wreathed  around 
larger  end  with  spots  of  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

'I'his  very  rare  \\'arl)ler  has  only  been  seen  near  the  s\vani])s 
of  Cape  May  by  Edward  Harris,  lOscj. ;  near  Moorestown,  in 
New  Jersey  :  and  in  the  vicinity  of  J'hiladeljihia,  about  the 
mi(U]le  of  May,  —  jirobably  as  a  stratigler  on  its  way  to  some 
Northern  breeding-place.  Its  notes  and  further  history  are  yet 
unknown. 

Since  Nuttall  wrote,  we  have  learned  a  little  more  of  the  life  his- 
tory of  this  feathered  beauty,  thougii  our  knowledge  of  the  bird's 
habits  is  still  very  limited.  So  rare  is  the  bin!  tliat  examples  a(h)rn 
but  few  collections  :  vet  it  has  been  seen  ocea.sionalK  throughout  tlie 
Eastern  States,  and  is  reported  bv  Thoinpson  as  '■plentiful'"  along 
the  Red  River,  in  Manitoba.  It  has  been  traced  north  to  Hudson 
Bay,  and  south  (in  winter)  to  the  West  Indies.  The  southern  limit 
of  its  breeding  area  i^'  ]>rol)abIy  about  tin-  45111  parallel.  The  nest 
has  been  found  by  Mr.  II.  15.  r)aile\-  at  I'lubagog  bake,  in  Maine, 
and  by  Mr.  James  W,  lianks  near  St.  John,  X.  B. 

Uanks's  nest,  which  I  had  the  i)rivilege  of  examining,  was  eom- 
pletelv  hidden  amid  the  dense  foliage  of  a  clump  of  cedars,  growing 
on  an  open  hill-side,  and  quite  close  to  a  much-used  thoroughfare. 
When  first  discovered  it  was  imtinislied.  and  the  female  was  at 
work  upon  it.  The  male  never  api)eared.  nor  was  he  heard  in  the 
vicinitv,  though  the  spot  was  visited  frequentlv.  /\fter  four  eggs 
had  been  laid,  female,  nest,  and  eggs  were  "gathered."' 

The  S]iecies  had  not  been  observed  before  near  St.  John,  thntigh 
Mr.  Boardman  had  reported  taking  exanqjles  at  St.  Stej^hen's,  and 
I  had  seen  .several  at  Edmundston,  near  the  Quebec  border. 


I 

ii       -I 


CANADIAN"   WARDLER. 


227 


blackish; 
p  yellow, 
^  on  throe 
chin  and 
iMJlar,  but 
rts  paler  ; 
:hes. 

ill  tree  ;  a 
and  grass 

3d  aroinid 


I'lie  KdmuncLston  birds  were  seen  in  early  Jui.  •,  and  those  securetl 
proved  to  be  males.  As  they  sant^  with  ,y;reat  frcciuency,  they  were 
easily  discovered,  and  were  invariably  found  amid  the  tup  brandies 
of  hi.u'h  spruce  and  tir  trees  on  the  crest  oi  a  hill.  W'e  were  anxious 
to  obtain  a  nest,  and  of  course  hunted  through  these  high  branches, 
little  thinking  that  this  coterie  of  Benedicts  were  making  holiday 
while  their  industrious  but  neglected  spouses  were  attending  to 
housfkee])ing  affairs  down  yonder  in  the  valley.  We  learned  tiie 
song,  however,  and  discovcretl  that  its  theme  resembled  somewhat 
the  simple  lay  of  the  Nashville,  though  the  voice  is  neither  so 
full  nor  so  sweet,  recalling  rather  the  thin,  wiry  tones  of  the  Black 
and  White  Creeper. 


■.  !| 


swani])s 
itown,  in 
bout  the 

to  some 
y  are  yet 

e  life  bis- 
he  bird's 
les  adorn 

lout  the 
il  ■■  along 

Hudson 
lern  limit 

The  nest 
n  Maine, 

was  com- 
growing 
»)uglifare. 
c  was  at 
ird  in  the 
our  eggs 

n,  though 
en's,  and 
jr. 


CANADIAN   WARBLKR. 

SVI.VANIA    CAXADF.NSIS. 

CuAR.  Male  :  above,  bluish  ash  ;  crown  marked  with  black  ;  line 
from  bill  around  the  eyes,  yellow:  line  from  beneath  the  eves  to  sides  of 
breast  black  ;  undo  parts  yellow  spotted  with  black,  the  spots  forming  a 
line  or  crescent  arross  the  breast  ;  throat  unspotted.  I'Vmale  and  voung: 
similar  but  laebing  Mack  on  head;  crescent  on  breast  less  distinct. 
Length   5  to  5;^^  inches. 

AV.i'A  On  the  groimd,  sometimes  near  border  of  a  stream  or  by  a  moist 
meadow,  placi  d  on  sitle  of  mound  or  among  upturned  roots  of  a  tree  ;  com- 
posed of  grass  and  stems,  lined  with  hair. 

/f;:;,'.!-.  4-5  ;  white  or  crcamv,  spotted,  chicflv  around  the  larger  end, 
with  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

This  is  a  rare  summer  species  in  the  Atlantic  Stntes.  appear- 
ing singly,  and  for  a  few  days  only,  on  the  jxassage  north  or 
south  in  the  spring  or  autumn.  These  birds  breed  in  Canada 
and  Labrador,  and  are  more  abundant  in  mountainous  interior, 
—  the  route  by  which  they  i)rincipa]|y  migrate.  They  winter 
in  the  tropical  regions,  are  then  silent,  and,  like  the  rest  of 
their  tribe,  very  active  in  darting  through  the  branches  after 
insects. 

.\udubon  foimd  this  species  breeding  in  the  Great  Tine 
Forest  of  the  Pokono  in  Pennsylvania,  as  well  as  in  Maine,  the 
British  Provinces,  and  Labrador.  They  have  a  short,  imattrac- 
tive  note  in  the  spring,  and  in  the  mountains  where  they  dwell 
they  have  a  predilection  for  the  shady  borders  of  streams  where 
laurels  grow. 


i 

1 


228 


SINGING   I5IRU.S. 


Ill 


lis 


I 


ill! 


f  ^  h; 

.:  ,.^  ;i! 

1     '      Hi 

i   .            i     '       |!«, 

!   '  # 

!     :.!% 

H 


The  Canadian  \Varl)lci-  is  common  during  the  mijrrations,  from 
the  Atlantic  to  tlie  Mississippi,  and  thougli  i)reedin<,^  chictiy  north  of 
43°,  some  pairs  nest  in  .Massachusetts,  New  \'orl<,  southern  Ontario, 
and  Illinois.  It  has  been  taken  in  Labrador  and  is  common  in 
Manitoba.     It  winters  in  Central  America. 


YELLOW-THROATED    ^\^\RBLER. 
Dendkoica  do.mlmca. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  ash;  forehead  and  sides  of  head,  black;  line 
from  nostril  to  hind  neck,  yellow;  patch  on  side  of  neck,  white;  wing- 
bars  white ;  outer  tail  feathers  with  white  patches  ;  beneath,  yellowish 
white;  chin  and  throat  rich  yellow;  sides  streaked  with  black.  Length 
4'4  to  5''{  inches. 

jVt's/.  In  an  open  grove  or  the  edge  of  heavy  woods,  on  top  of  horizontal 
branch  or  at  the  forks  of  a  limb,  or  ''  concealed  in  iicndant  moss,"  20  to  yo 
feet  from  the  uround  ;  made  of  grass-weed  stems,  strips  of  bark,  and  moss, 
lined  with  vegetable  fibre,  horse-hair,  or  feathers. 

^,Cs^-  3-5;  white,  tinged  with  green,  spotted  around  the  larger  end 
with  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

These  elegant  and  remarkable  birds  reside  in  the  West 
Indies,  and  also  migrate  in  considerable  mmibcrs  into  the 
sontliern  parts  of  the  L^nited  States,  iiarticularly  Louisiana  and 
Georgia,  v.hence  indeed  they  only  absent  themselves  in  the 
two  inclement  months  of  December  and  January.  They  are 
seen  in  February  in  Georgia,  but  very  rarely  venture  as  far 
north  as  Pennsylvania.  The  song  is  pretty  loud  and  agreeable, 
according  to  Latham  and  Wilson,  resembling  somewhat  the 
notes  of  the  Indigo  liird.  In  the  tropical  countries  they  inhabit, 
this  delicate  music  is  continued  nearly  throughout  the  year, 
and  participatec^  also  by  the  female,  though  possessed  of  in- 
ferior vocal  powers.  The  bird  appears  to  have  many  of  the 
habits  of  the  Creeping  Warbler  {S.  raria),  running  spirally 
around  the  trunks  of  the  pine-trees,  on  which  it  aligiits,  and 
ascending  or  descending  in  the  active  search  of  its  insect 
fare. 

The  sagacity  displayed  by  this  bird  in  the  construction  and 
situation  of  its  nest  is  verv  remarkable.     This  curious  fabric  is 


i 


s,  from 
loilh  of 
)nlario, 
imon  in 


ick;  line 

;e ;  wing- 

^•ellowish 

J.cngth 

lorizontal 

"  20  lo  >jO 

md  moss, 


:irgc 


r  c 


nd 


ic  West 
nto  the 
ana  and 
in  the 
'hey  are 
as  far 
rceable, 
hat  the 
inhabit, 
jie  year, 
I  of  in- 
of  the 
spirally 
its,  and 
insect 

lion  and 
fabric  is 


YELLOW-THROATED   WARBLER. 


229 


suspe!ided  to  a  kind  of  rope  which  hangs  from  tree  to  tree, 
usually  dejjending  from  branches  that  bend  over  ri\ers  or 
ravines.  The  nest  itself  is  made  of  dry  Ijladcs  of  grass,  the 
ribs  of  leaves,  and  slemler  root-fibres,  the  whole  interwoven 
together  with  great  art ;  it  is  also  fastened  to,  or  rather  worked 
into,  the  i)endant  strings  made  of  the  tough  silky  fibres  of  some 
species  of  Kcnitcs,  or  other  plant  of  that  Himily,  It  is.  in  fict, 
a  small  circular  bed,  so  thick  and  compact  as  to  exclude  the 
rain,  left  to  rock  in  the  wind  without  sustaining  or  being  ac- 
cessible to  any  injury.  The  more  securely  to  defend  this 
precious  habitation  from  the  attacks  of  numerous  enemies,  the 
opening,  or  entrance,  is  neither  made  on  the  top  nor  the  side, 
but  at  the  bottom  ;  nor  is  the  access  direct,  for  after  passing 
the  vestibule,  it  is  necessary  to  go  over  a  kind  of  partiti'.>n,  and 
through  another  aperture,  before  it  descends  into  the  guarded 
abode  of  its  eggs  and  young.  This  interior  lodgment  is  round 
and  soft,  being  lined  with  a  kind  of  lichen,  or  the  silky  down 
of  plants. 

This  species  is  confined  chiefly  to  the  South  Atlantic  States, 
though  occasionally  a  few  wander  to  New  York,  Connecticut, 
and  Massachusetts.     \\  winters  in  Florida  and  Central  America. 


Note.  —  The  Sycamoke  Warbler  {D.  dominica  albilora) 
differs  from  the  type  in  being  smaller  (length  4^^  to  5^2  inclics) 
and  in  having  the  line  over  tlie  eyes  rc/////t',  instead  of  yellow.  It 
occurs  along  the  Mississippi  valley  north  to  southern  Illinois  and 
eastward  to  Ohio,  wliere  it  is  common,  and  has  been  taken  also  in 
South  Carolina  and  Florida. 

It  winters  in  Central  America. 


il 


,  i';  1 

!  ! 

V. 


!i 


III* 
i 

'itii 


li 


•^i&ife^ 


II 


!        h 


AM 

'.Ti  t 

ii'!!  ii' 

•!'.   :' 

'f'-l 

BLACK-THROATED    GREEN    WARBLER. 

Dendroica   virens. 

Char.  Male  in  spring  :  above,  bright  olive;  line  on  sides  of  head  rich 
yellow;  wings  and  tail  dusky;  wing-bars  and  outer  tail-feathers  white; 
beneath,  white  tinged  with  yellow;  throat  and  chest  rich  black.  Male  in 
autumn,  female,  and  young:  similar,  but  black  of  throat  mixed  with 
yellow,  sometimes  obscured.     Length  5  to  ^}^  inches. 

Mt'st.  On  the  border  of  heavy  woods,  in  fork  of  coniferous  tree  30  to 
50  feet  from  the  ground;  of  twigs,  grass,  etc.,  lined  with  hair  and  down. 

^ft'-*'-  3~4  5  white  or  creamy  white  wreathed  around  larger  end  with 
spots  of  brown  and  lilac;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  rather  rare  species  arrives  from  its  tropical  winter- 
quarters  in  Pennsylvania  towards  the  close  of  April  or  begin- 
ning of  May.  About  the  12th  of  the  latter  month  it  is  seen  in 
this  part  of  Massachusetts ;  but  never  more  than  a  single  pair 
are  seen  together.  At  this  season  a  silent  individual  may  be 
occasionally  observed,  for  an  hour  at  a  time,  carefully  and  ac- 


BLACK- IIIROAIED    GKLEN    WARBLER. 


231 


icad  rich 
rs  white  ; 
Male  in 
xed  with 


tree  30  to 

clown. 

end  with 


winter- 
r  begin- 

seen  in 
igle  pair 

may  be 

and  ac- 


tively searching  for  small  caterpillars  and  winged  insects  amidst 
tlie  white  blossoms  of  the  shady  apple-tree  ;  and  so  inolVeiisive 
and  unsuspicious  is  the  little  warbler  that  he  pursues  without 
alarm  his  busy  occupation,  as  the  spectator  within  a  few  feet  of 
him  watches  at  the  foot  of  the  tree.  Early  in  (Jctober  these 
birds  are  seen  in  small  numbers  roving  restlessly  through  the 
forest,  prejiaratory  to  their  departure  for  the  South. 

'Ihough  the  greater  part  of  the  species  probably  proceed 
farther  north  to  rear  their  young,  a  few  spend  the  sinnmer  in 
the  Middle  and  Northern  States;  but  from  their  lin'iorous  and 
retiring  habits  it  is  not  easy  to  trace  out  their  retreats  at  the 
period  of  breeding.  In  the  summer  of  1830,  however,  on  the 
8th  of  Jime,  1  was  so  forliuiate  as  to  find  a  nest  of  this  species 
in  a  perfectly  solitary  situation  on  the  lilue  Hills  of  Milton. 
The  female  was  now  sitting,  and  about  to  hatch.  The  nest  was 
in  a  low,  thick,  and  stunted  Virginia  jimiper.  When  I  ap- 
proached near  to  the  nest  the  female  stood  motionless  on  its 
edge  and  peeped  down  in  such  a  manner  that  I  imagined  her 
to  be  a  young  bird.  She  then  darted  directly  to  the  earth  and 
ran  ;  but  when,  deceived,  I  sotight  her  on  the  ground,  she  had 
very  expertly  disappeared,  and  I  now  found  the  nest  to  con- 
tain 4  rotmdish  eggs,  white,  inclining  to  flesh-color,  variegated, 
more  particularly  at  the  great  end,  with  pale,  purplish  points 
of  various  sizes,  interspersed  with  other  large  spots  of  brown 
and  blackish.  The  nest  was  formed  of  circularlv  entwined 
fine  strips  of  the  inner  bark  of  the  juniper  and  the  totigh  white 
fibrous  bark  of  some  other  plant,  then  bedded  with  soft  feath- 
ers of  the  Robin,  and  lined  with  a  few  horse-hairs  and  some 
slender  tops  of  bent-grass  {Agrostis).  The  male  was  singing 
his  simple  chant  at  the  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
nest,  and  was  now  nearly  in  the  same  dark  wood  of  tall  oaks 
and  white  pines  in  which  I  had  first  heard  him  a  fortnight  be- 
fore. This  simple,  rather  drawling,  and  somewhat  plaintive 
song,  uttered  at  short  intervals,  resembled  the  syllables  'tc  dc 
terlfscii,  sometimes  tc  i/cn'sru,  pronounced  pretty  loud  and 
slow,  and  the  tones  proceeded  from  high  to  low.  In  the  inter- 
vals he  was  perpetually  busied  in  catching  small  cynips  and 


n 


!i 


I   i ' 


; 


f  M 


4i''!t 


!i.      ■ 


232 


SL\(;iN(;    BIRDS. 


other  kinds  of  flies,  kce])ing  up  a  smart  snapping  of  his  bill, 
almost  simikir  to  the  noise  made  by  knocking  pebbles  together. 
This  quaint  and  indolent  ditty  I  have  often  heard  before  in 
the  dark  and  solitary  woods  of  west  Pennsylvania ;  and  here, 
as  there,  it  affords  an  agreeable  relief  in  the  dreary  silence  and 
gloom  of  the  thick  forest.  This  note  is  very  much  like  the 
call  of  the  Chicadee,  and  at  times  both  are  heard  amidst 
the  reigning  silence  of  the  summer  noon.  In  the  whole  dis- 
trict of  this  extensive  hill  or  mountain,  in  Milton,  there  ap- 
peared to  exist  no  other  pair  of  these  lonely  Warblers  but  the 
present.  Another  pair,  however,  had  probably  a  nest  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  woods  of  Mount  Auburn  in  Cambridge,  and 
in  the  spring  of  the  present  year  (1831)  several  pairs  of  these 
birds  were  seen  for  a  transient  period. 

Nuttall  was  not  the  only  one  of  the;  older  writers  who  expressed 
the  opinion  that  this  and  other  species  of  the  family  were  less 
abundant  than  more  niocl(M-n  observers  have  found  them.  Wilson 
and  Audvibon  made  sir.iilar  statements. 

Tliis  Warbler  is  now  known  to  be  a  common  bird  throughout 
these  Eastern  States,  and  may  be  found,  in  summer,  in  any  coni- 
ferous forest  in  Massachusetts,  and  thence  northward  to  the  fur- 
countries  and  westward  to  the  plains.  It  breeds  also,  sparingly,  in 
southern  New  England,  northern  Ohio,  Illinois,  etc.,  and  "along 
the  AUeghanies  to  South  Carolina,"  and  winters  in  the  West  Indies 
and  Central  America. 


BLACKBURN  IAN    WARBLER. 

DeNDROICA    BLACl'.BURNI^. 

Char.  Male :  ahove,  black,  back  streaked  with  whitish  ;  side.,  of  head 
black ;  crown  patch,  line  over  eye,  and  entire  throat  and  breast  rich 
orange  or  flame  color  ;  belly  yellowish  white  ;  sides  streaked  with  black; 
large  white  patches  on  wings  ;  outer  tail-feathers  nearly  all  white.  Fe- 
male :  similar,  but  black  replaced  by  grayish  brown,  and  orange  by  dull 
yellow  ;  white  patches  on  wings  and  tail  less  conspicuous.  Length  5^ 
to  5^  inches. 

A^est.  Usually  in  coniferous  woods,  saddled  on  horizontal  limb  of  pine 
or  hemlock,  20  to  40  feet  from  the  ground  ;  composed  of  twigs,  roots,  and 
shreds  of  bark  mixed  with  vegetable  down,  lined  with  feathers  and  hair. 

Eggs.  4;  white,  often  tinged  with  green,  spotted,  chiefly  around 
larger  end,  with  brown  and  lilac,  0.70  X  0.50. 


BLACKlJl,  RMAN    WARDl.KK. 


The  Blackburnian  Warhlcr  is  one  uf  the  rarest  and  UM^t 
beautiful  species  uf  the  !.^enus,  \vhi(  h  from  the  l^l  to  the  isih 
of  .May,  or  sonielinics  later.  i)ays  a  transient  visit  'o  tiie  Middle 
and  Northern  Stales,  on  its  way  to  its  remote  boreal  place  of 
retirement  fof  the  breeding'  season.  It  is  still  more  rarely  seen 
in  the  autumn,  about  the  month  of  Sei)lember,  in  its  passage 
to  tropical  America,  where  it  winters,  as  may  be  [)resumed,  fron 
its  occurrence  late  in  autumn  about  Vera  C"ru/,  according  to 
Mr.  IJullock.  It  is  an  exceedingly  nimble  insect-hunter,  keej)- 
ing  towards  the  tops  of  trees,  scarcely  uttering  even  an  audible 
chirp,  and  at  this  season  no  song  as  far  as  is  yet  known. 

On  the  Magdalene  Islands  in  the  (julf  of  St.  Lawrence,  in 
June,  Audubon  remarks  that  he  heard  the  song  of  this  beauti- 
ful warbler,  consisting  of  five  or  six  loud  notes,  which  it  uttered 
from  the  branches  of  a  fir-tree  while  engaged  in  (juest  of  its 
prey.  The  n'.st  found  in  Xova  Scotia  was  made  externally  of 
coarse  materials  and  lined  with  silky  fibres  and  delicate  strii)s 
of  bark,  over  which  lay  a  thick  bed  of  feathers  and  horse-hair. 
It  was  found  in  a  small  fork  of  a  tree,  5  or  6  feet  from  the 
ground,  near  a  brook.  Ur.  Brewer  also  found  a  nest  of  this 
species  in  Massachusetts. 


of  head 

last   rich 

|h  black; 

Lte.     Fe- 

by  dull 

igth  s% 

of  pine 
lots,  and 
|>d  hair, 
around 


The  very  rare  adult  of  the  Hemlock  Warbler  was  foimd  by 
Wilson  in  the  Great  Pine  Swamp  in  Pennsylvania,  and  aj)- 
peared  to  take  up  its  residence  in  the  dark  hemlock-trees  of 
that  desolate  region.  It  was  very  lively  and  active,  climbing 
among  the  branches  and  hanging  from  the  twigs  like  a  Tit- 
mouse. It  darted  after  flies  to  a  considerable  distance,  and 
beginning  with  the  lower  branches,  hunted  with  regularity  up- 
wards to  the  summit  of  the  tree,  and  in  this  way  it  proceeded 
very  industriously  to  forage  through  the  forest  till  satisfied.  At 
intervals  it  stopped  an  instant  to  warble  out  a  few  low  and 
sweet  notes,  probably  for  the  recognition  or  company  of  its 
mate,  which  the  discoverer,  however,  did  not  see. 

The  nest  of  this  species,  according  to  Audubon,  who  discov- 
ered it  in  the  Great  Pine  Swamp,  was  made  in  a  hemlock  or 


i  V 


1  M  ,  ' 


fU 


1 

11  < 

1 

1 

■ 

|i 

1. 


li; 


'II, 


\l        u«' 


i 


234 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


sj)ruce  tree  at  a  consiflerablc  elevation.  Lichens,  dry  leaves  of 
the  hemlock,  and  slender  twigs  formed  the  exterior ;  it  was 
then  lined  with  hair  or  fur  and  the  feathers  of  the  Ruffed 
(Irouse.  He  afterwards  met  with  this  species  in  Maine  and 
Newfoundlanil. 

Nothing  is  more  remarkable  in  the  history  of  this  species 
than  the  rarity  of  the  adult  and  tiie  abundance  of  the  young 
birds ;  these  last,  which  we  have  long  known  as  the  Autumnal 
\\'arbler,  appear  in  gregarious  Hocks  in  the  largt;r  solitary  for- 
ests of  Massachusetts  as  early  as  the  20th  of  July,  assembled 
from  the  neighboring  districts  [)robably,  in  which  they  have 
been  reared.  They  remain  there  usually  until  the  middle  o( 
October,  at  which  time  they  are  also  seen  in  the  Midtlle 
States.  They  feed  on  small  insects  and  berries.  Late  in  the 
season,  on  a  fine  autumnal  morning,  troops  of  them  may  be 
seen  in  the  fields  and  lanes,  sometimes  descentling  to  the 
ground,  and  busily  emjjloyed  in  turning  over  the  new  i'l.nvn 
leaves,  or  perambulating  and  searching  the  chinks  of  the  bark 
of  the  trees,  or  the  holes  in  the  posts  of  the  fence,  in  (juest  of 
lurking  moths  and  spiders  ;  and  while  thus  eagerly  engaged, 
they  are  occasionally  molested  or  driven  away  by  the  more 
legitimate  Creepers  or  Nuthatches,  whose  jealousy  they  thus 
arouse  by  their  invasion.  Earlier  in  the  season  they  prey  on 
cynips,  flies,  and  more  active  game,  in  pursuit  of  which  they 
may  be  seen  fluttering  and  darting  through  the  verdant  boughs 
of  the  forest  trees.  One  of  these  little  visitors,  which  I  ob- 
tained by  its  flying  inadvertently  into  an  open  chamber,  soon 
became  reconciled  to  confinement,  flew  vigorously  after  house- 
flies,  and  fed  greedily  on  grasshoppers  and  ivy  berries  (Cissus 
hcifoacca)  ;  at  length  it  became  so  sociable  as  to  court  my 
acquaintance  and  eat  from  my  hand.  Before  I  restored  it  to 
liberty,  its  occasional  tiveet  attracted  several  of  its  companions 
to  the  windows  of  its  prison.  At  this  time  the  bird  is  desti- 
tute of  song,  and  only  utters  a  plaintive  call  of  recognition. 

Nuttall  followed  Wilson  and  Audubon  in  considering  the  young 
Blackburnians  a  different  species,  naming  it  the  "  Hemlock  War- 
bler."    I  have  given  above  Nuttall's  account  of  the  two. 


I, 


CIIKSINL  r-SIDKl)    WAKIU.KK. 


,oung 
War- 


TIk"  lllackhurni.'in  is  rutlK-r  common  in  tlic  Atlantic  States  and 
Westward  to  tlie  Plains,  breeding  chietly  north  of  45°,  and  sparingly 
in  Massacluisctls  and  Connecticut,  and  scjutliward  aloni;  the  crests 
of  the  Allegiianics.  It  winters  from  the  liahanias  and  eastern 
Mexico  southwaril. 

Many  Canadian  observers  have  considered  this  \Vari)ler  ratlier 
rare,  hut  thr  ojjinion  Ii.is  pn)l)al)ly  arisen  from  tlie  secluded  habits 
of  tile  bird  wliile  in  its  summer  liome.  It  shc)ws  a  j)relerence  for 
the  higlier  branches,  .ind  its  favorite  liaunts  arc  amid  llie  deeper 
forests  where  the  pine  and  liendock  llourish. 


ciii;srNi  r-sii)i:i)  \\aki'.m:k. 

I  )l,\liRi)U  A    I'F.NNsN  lA.WU  A. 

Char.  M.ile:  back  black,  streaked  with  olive  of  uiavish  or  vclluwish 
tint;  eiown  vellow;  sitiesof  heuvl  white,  ciiclosinj;  .1  patch  ot  black;  >i(les 
of  neck  and  entire  under  parts  while  ;  sides  streaked  with  chestnut,  which 
extends  from  neck  totlanks;  win<^-liars  and  blotihes  on  tail  white. 
Fcni.de:  similar,  but  colors  duller.  Young;  ui)j)(.r  parts  bright  olive; 
wing-bars  yellowish  ;  under  parts  white.     Length  4^4  to  5J4  inches. 

A'c-s/.  On  the  edge  of  an  open  woodland  or  the  mtirgiii  of  a  moist 
meadow,  in  low  tree  or  bush;  compcjsed  of  grass  and  strips  of  bark  fas- 
tened widi  insect  >ilk,  and  lined  with  grass  or  leaves  or  hair. 

Aft''-f*  4~5  >  white  or  creamy,  spotted,  chietly  around  the  larger  end, 
which  is  sometimes  wreathed,  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac  ;  o.GS  /;  0.50. 

This  rare  and  bcautilul  Sylvia,  which  probably  winters  in 
tropical  America,  appears  in  the  Middle  and  Northern  States 
early  in  May  on  its  way  north  to  breed  ;  it  is  also  seen  in  the 
spring  in  Canada  and  arotinil  Hudson's  Hay.  A  few  ])airs  re- 
main, no  doubt,  to  rear  their  young  in  secluded  moimtainous 
situations  in  the  Northern  States,  as  on  the  2  2(1  of  May, 
1830,  a  pair  appeared  to  have  fixed  their  summer  abode 
near  the  summit  of  the  Blue  Hills  of  Milton.  The  note  of  the 
male  was  very  similar  to  that  of  the  Summer  Vellow  Bird,  being 
only  a  little  louder,  and  less  whistling  ;  it  resembles  '/s/t  ' tsh 
'tsh  'tshvia,  given  at  about  an  interval  of  half  a  minute,  and 
answered  by  his  mate  at  some  distance,  near  which,  it  is  proba- 
ble, there  was  a  nest.  He  appeared  to  be  no  way  suspicious 
of  our  approach  ;  his  resdessness  rt-as  subdued,  .-^rd  he  quietly 
sat  near  the  same  low^  bushes,  amusing  himself  and  his  consort, 
for  an  hour  at  a  time,  with  the  display  of  his  lively  and  simple 


liiL 


f 

ii 


'ii 


2;,  6 


SINGING   lUKDS. 


ditty.  ( )n  their  fir^t  arrival,  previous  to  pairing;,  these  birds 
are  like  the  rest  of  the  gemis,  restless,  and  intently  enj^M^ed 
in  the  (  hase  of  insects  amidst  the  blossoms  and  tender  lca\es  ; 
they  likewise  pursue  eonunon  and  green  bottle  Hies  with  a-,  idity 
and  success.  On  the  jjth  of  June,  1S31,  I  observed  a  i)air 
selecting  food  f  )r  their  'young,  with  their  usual  address  and 
activity,  by  the  margin  of  a  bu^hy  and  sechuled  swamj)  on  the 
west  side  of  i-'resh  Tond,  in  this  vicinity  ;  but  1  had  not  the 
got)d  fortmie  to  discover  the  nest.  I  have,  however,  since,  I 
believe,  discovered  the  nest  of  this  bird,  in  a  hazel  copse  in  a 
wood  in  Acton,  in  this  State.  It  is  fixed  in  the  forked  twigs  of 
a  hazel  about  breast  liigh.  The  fabric  is  rather  light  and  airy, 
being  made  eviernally  of  a  few  coarse  blades  and  stalks  of 
dead  grass,  then  fillecl  in  with  finer  blades  of  the  same,  the 
whole  matted  and  tied  with  caterpillar's  silk,  and  lined  with 
very  slender  strips  of  brown  bark  and  similar  white-pine  leaves. 
It  appeared  to  have  been  forsaken  before  its  completion,  and 
the  eggs  I  have  never  >een. 

In  the  woods  around  Farranville,  on  the  Sustjuehanna, 
within  the  range  of  the  Alleghany  chain,  in  the  month  of  May, 
1830,  I  saw  and  heard  several  males  in  full  song,  in  the 
shady  forest  trees  by  a  small  stream,  and  have  no  doubt  of 
their  breeding  in  that  situation,  though  I  was  not  fortunate 
enough   to  find  a  nest. 


*t^' 


This  species  is  now  a  common  summer  resident  of  New  England 
and  the  st'ttlcd  portions  of  Canada,  and  occurs  westward  to  the 
Plains.  It  breeds  in  numbers  as  tar  soutli  as  tlic  fortieth  parallel, 
and  regularly,  thougli  sparingly,  on  tlie  elevated  lands  southward 
to  Georgia:  is  not  an  uncommon  summer  visitor  to  the  IVIaritime 
Provinces,  and  is  quite  common  in  .Manitoba.  It  winters  south- 
ward to  the  Bahamas  and  Central  America. 


n.W-llRKASTKI)    WAUr.I.r.F--. 


^11 


rland 
the 
i-allel, 
nvard 
itime 
south- 


BAY-I5R MASTED    WARIUJ'.R. 

I)r.\l)K(  )IC  A    CASTANKA. 

Char.  Male  :  hack  grayish  olivL-,  strcakcil  with  black  ;  forehead  and 
cheeks  l)lack  ;  sides  of  neck  huffy  ;  crown,  throat,  breast,  and  sides  chc«it- 
nut;  remaiiuitr  of  under  parts  l)utti>h  ;  \vin.!;hars  and  patches  on  tail 
white.  Fenialc  :  ahove,  olive  streakccl  with  Mack  ;  beneath,  buffy,  sides 
and  breast  tinged  with  dull  rufous.     Length  i)i  to  6  inches. 

Xcst.  In  an  open  wondlnul,  on  hori/oiital  branch  of  coniferous  tree 
10  to  20  feet  from  the  ground  ;  of  tw  igs,  shreds  of  bark,  s;ra>s  roots,  and 
moss,  lined  with  fine  roots,  moss,  or  pine-needles. 

F:<:<s-  3-6  (ii>^uaiiy  4)  ;  white,  with  blue  tint,  or  bluish  green,  spotted 
with  reddish  brown  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

'Ihis  is  a  still  rarer  and  more  transient  visitor  than  the  last. 
It  arrives  in  I'ennsylvania  from  the  Soiitn  .-.(jme  time  in  April 
or  about  the  beginning  of  May,  and  towards  the  i  Jtii  or  15th 
of  the  same  month  it  visits  Massac  husetts,  but  seldom  stays 
more  than  a  week  or  ten  days,  and  is  very  rarely  se-.-n  on  its 
return  in  the  autumn.  Audubon  onre  obser\-ed  >'veral  in 
Louisiana  late  in  June,  so  that  it  probably  sometimes  breeds 
in  very  secluded  places  without  regularly  proceeding  to  the 
northern  regions.  It  is  an  active  insectdiunter,  and  keej^s 
much  towards  the  tops  of  the  highest  trees,  where  it  darts  about 
with  great  activity,  and  hangs  from  the  twigs  with  fluttering 
wings.  One  of  these  birds,  which  was  wounded  in  the  wing, 
soon  became  reconciled  to  confinement,  and  greedily  caught 
and  devoured  the  flies  which  I  offered  hiin  ;  but  from  the 
extent  of  the  injury,  he  did  not  long  sur\-ive.  In  habits  and 
manners,  as  well  as  markings,  this  species  greatly  resembl.s 
the  preceding. 

This  Warbler  is  exceptional  in  being  more  abundant  in  New 
England  in  spring  than  in  autumn.  Mr.  Mcllwraith  reports  that 
the  same  rule  obtains  in  Ontario,  but  Dr.  Wheaton  considered  that 
in  Ohio  the  birds  were  more  numerous  during  tlie  autumn:  an*. 
these  apparently  conflicting  statements  suggest  an  interesting  phase 
in  the  question  of  migration  routes. 

The  bird  is  common  as  a  summer  resident  in  the  northern  por- 
tions of  New  England,  New  York,  and  Michigan,  though  rather  rare 


2^,8 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


in  New  Brunswick,  Quebec,  and  Ontario.  The  most  southern  point 
at  which  it  has  been  found  breeding  is  Chicarua,  N.  H.,  in  lati- 
tude 44°,  where  Mr.  Frank  Holies  obtained  a  nest  in  1S90.  The  spe- 
cies ranges  north  to  Hudson  Bay,  and  south  to  Central  America. 


,.     ■ 

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BLACK-POLL   WARBLER. 
Dexdroica  striata. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  olive  thickly  streaked  with  black  ;  top  of  head 
black;  cheeks  and  eiuire  under  i)art<  white;  sides  streaked  with  black; 
wing-bars  and  tail-patches  white.     Length  5>4  to  5-V  inches. 

A'r\t.  In  an  evergreen  forest  on  low  branch  (sometimes  on  the  groinul)  ; 
of  grass,  roots,  twigs,  and  lichens  ;  lined  with  grass  covered  with  white 
feathers. 

/^i,^'^:  4-5;  white,  with  various  tints  (usually  pale  pink  or  creamy), 
more  or  less  spotted  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac,  —  often  dark  blown 
and  olive  gray  ;  0.75  X  0.55. 

'Ibis  rather  common  and  wt'll-marked  species  is  observed  to 
arrive  in  Pennsylvania  from  tiie  Soutli  about  the  20th  of  April, 
but  in  Massachusetts  hardly  before  the  middle  of  May ;  it  re- 
turns early  in  September,  and  appears  to  feed  wholly  on  insects. 
In  the  Middle  States  it  is  confined  chiefly  to  the  woods,  where, 
in  the  summits  of  the  tallest  trees,  it  is  seen  in  busy  pursuit  of 
its  favorite  prey.  On  its  first  arrival  it  keeps  usually  in  the 
tops  of  the  maples,  darting  about  amidst  the  blossoms.  As 
the  woods  become  clothed  with  leaves,  it  may  be  found  pretty 
generally  as  a  summer  resident ;  it  often  also  seeks  the  banks 
of  creeks  and  swamps,  in  which  situations  it  probably  passes  the 
breeding  season.  In  this  vicinity  the  Black-poll  is  a  familiar 
visitor  in  the  lowest  orchard-trees-,^  where  it  feeds  on  canker- 
worms  and  other  small  caterpillars,  as  well  as  flies  of  different 
kinds,  etc.  At  this  time,  towards  the  month  of  June,  it  is  no 
longer  a  restless  wanderer,  but  having  fixed  upon  its  station  for 
the  simimer,  it  now  begins,  in  a  humble  way,  to  display  its 
musical  talents  in  the  cherished  and  constant  company  of  its 
faithful  mate.  This  note,  uttered  at  interwals  of  half  a  minute, 
is  like  the  sound  of  /s/i'  ts)i  tsh  tshc  tshc,  from  low  to  high,  but 


!l!i.!i 


PINE   WAKIJIER. 


239 


altogether  so  bhrill  antl  slender  as  lo  sound  almost  like  the 
faint  filing  of  a  saw.  This  s[)ecies  extends  its  migrations  to 
Newfoundland,  according  to  Pennant.  In  the  month  of 
June,  Audubon  found  the  nest  in  Labrailor  jjlaced  about 
3  feet  from  the  ground,  in  the  fork,  of  a  small  branch,  close 
t  .  the  main  stem  of  a  fir-tree.  It  was  formed  of  green  and 
white  moss  and  liche  is,  intermixed  with  coarse  dried  grass  ; 
within  this  was  a  layer  of  bent-grass,  the  lining,  of  dark-colored 
dry  moss,  looked  like  horse-hair,  and  was  arranged  in  a  circu- 
lar direction  with  great  care  ;  lastly  was  a  thick  bed  of  large 
soft  feathers,  —  some  of  them  were  from  Ducks,  but  most  of 
them  from  the  Willow  Cirouse.      It  contained  4  eggs. 

The  Black-poll  breeds  sparingly  in  nortliern  New  England,  New 
Brunswick,  and  northern  Michigan,  building  chicriy  beyond  the 
Lan'-entian  hills,  in  Quebec  antl  Ontario:  though  Dr.  L.  B.  Bisliop 
found  it  breeding  in  numbers  on  the  Magdalen  Islands,  and  Mr. 
J.  P.  Xorris  took  a  number  of  nests  on  Grand  Menan.  It  ranges 
northward  to  the  Barren  Grounds  and  to  Alaska,  and  winters  in 
northern  South  Anierica. 


PINE  WARBLER. 

Dexdroicw  vir.oRsii. 

Char.  Above,  ohve  ;  beneath,  yellow,  paler  (or  white)  on  bcllv  ;  wing- 
bars  and  blotches  on  outer  tail-feather.s,  white.  Length  5 '4  to  5 '4 
inches. 

iVt's^.  Usually  in  evergreen  woods,  on  horizontal  bough  of  pin:,  or 
cedar  30  or  40  feet  from  the  grcund;  of  weed  stems,  slireds  oi  bark, 
and  leaves  fastened  with  insect  silk,  lined  with  hair  and  feathers. 

E.i,Xs-  4-5;  dull  white  or  gray,  spotted  with  brown  and  lilac;  0.70 
X  0.50. 

This  common  species,  to  the  commencement  of  winter,  in- 
habits all  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  probably  extends 
its  northern  migrations  to  the  forests  of  Newfoundland.  It 
arrives  in  Pennsylvania  at  the  close  of  March  and  beginning  of 
April,  and  soon  after  is  seen  in  all  parts  of  New  l-mgland, 
amidst  the  pine  and  juniper  forests,  in  which   it  printdpally 


i 

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i 
it 

240 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


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resides.     Uoth  the  old  and  young  remain  with  us  till  nearly  the 
close  of  October;  stragglers  have  even  been  seen  in  mid-win- 
ter in  the  latitude  of  43°.     In  winter  they  rove  through  the 
l)ine  forests  and  barrens  of  the  Southern  States  in  companies 
of  20  to  50  or  niore,  alighting  at   times  on  the  trunks  of  the 
trees,  and  attentively  searching  them  for  lurking  larvas,  but  are 
most  fretiuently  employed  in  ci.pturing  the  small  insects  which 
infest  the  oi)ening  buds  of  the  pine,  around  which  they  may  be 
seen  perpetually  hovering,  si)ringing,  or  creeping,  with  restless 
activity;  in  this  way  they  proceed,  from  time  to  time,  foraging 
through    the    forest ;    occasionally,  also,  they   alight    on   the 
ground  in  quest  of  worms  and  grubs  of  \arious  kinds,  or  dart 
irregularly  after  hovering  flies,  almost  in  the  manner  of  the  Fly- 
catchers.     In  these  states  they  are  by  far  tlie  most  numerous  of 
all  the  Warblers.     In  the  montli  of  March  they  already  began 
to  show  indications  for  pairing,  and  jealous   contests  ensued 
perpetually  among  the  mak  .     The  i)rincii)al  body  of  the  spe- 
cies ]-)robably  remain  the  year  round  in  the  Southern  forests, 
where  I  saw  them  throughout  the  winter ;  great  numbers  are 
also  bred  in  the  Northern  States.     In  summer  their  food  is  the 
eggs   and   larvre  of  various  insects,  as  well  as  flies  or  cynips, 
caterpillars,  coleoptera,  and  ants.     In  autumn,  the   young  fre- 
quent the  gardens,  groves,  and   orchards,  feeding  likewise   on 
berries  of  various  kinds,  as  on  those  of  the  cornel,  wild  grape, 
and  five-leaved  ivy  ;  at  this  season  they  are  very  fot,  and  fly  and 
forage  in  families.     They  now  only  utter  a  shrill  and  plaintive 
chip.     I   have   had  a  male   Pine  Warbler,  domesticated  for  a 
short  time  ;  he  fed  gratefully,  from  the  instant  he  was  caught, 
upon   flies,  small   earthworms,   and  nr'nced   flesh,  and  was  so 
tame   and    artless  as  to   sit   contented   on    every   hand,    and 
scarcely  shift  himself  securely  from  my  feet.     On  offering  him 
drink  he  walked  direcdy  into  the   vessel,  without  using  the 
sMghtest  precaution  or  exhibiting  any  trace  of  fear.     His  /s/iip 
and    manner   in    all    respects   were   those    of  the    Autumnal 
\\'arbler. 

The  song  of  the  Pine  Warbler,  though  agreeable,  amidst  the 
drearv  solitude  of  the  boundless  forests  which  he  frequents,  has 


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aintive 

for  a 
aught, 
,vas  so 
and 
him 
ig  the 
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tumnal 

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Of 


riXE   WARBLER. 


241 


but  little  compass  or  variety  ;  sometimes  it  approaches  the  sim- 
plest trill  of  the  Canary,  but  it  is  commonly  a  reverberating, 
gently  rising,  or  murmuring  sound,  like  cr  ' r  '/•  ';■  '/-'/• ' rdh  ;  or, 
in  the  spring,  'hoc  'tioe  'tio  'fro  '/:o  'ho  'ho,  and  sometimes  like 
'/s/i  'IsJi  'tsh  'ho  'ho  'ho  'ho  'ho  ;  when  barkened  to  some  time, 
there  is  a  variation  in  the  cadence,  which,  though  rather  feeble 
at  a  distance,  is  not  unpleasant,  as  the  little  minstrel  tunes  his 
pipe  during  the  heat  of  the  summer  day,  while  he  flits  gently 
and  innocently  fearless  through  the  shady  boughs  of  the  pine  or 
cedar  in  i)erpetual  quest  of  his  untiring  jirey.  This  song  is 
commonly  heard  at  a  considerable  distance  from  his  mate  and 
nest,  from  whom  he  often  widely  strays,  according  to  the  suc- 
cess of  his  precarious  pursuit.  As  the  so'.md  of  the  warble 
varies  from  slender  to  high  or  l(jw,  it  is  often  difficult  to  dis- 
cover the  retreat  of  the  little  busy  musician,  which  appears  far 
or  near  with  the  modulation  of  his  almost  ventriloiiuous  note. 
The  female  likewise  tunes,  at  times,  lier  more  slender  lay  in 
a  wiry  tone,  almost  like  that  of  the  S.  varia,  in  early  spring. 

About  the  7th  of  June,   1830,    I   discovered   a   nest  of  this 
species  in  a  Virginian  juniper,  near  Mount  Auburn,  in  this  vicin- 
ity, at  the  height    of  about  40  feet  fn^m  the  ground.     It  was 
firmly  fixed  in  the  upright  twigs  of  a  close  branch.     The  nest 
was  thin,  but  very  neat ;  the  principal  material  was  the  wiry  old 
stems  of  the  slender  knot-weed  (/I'/i^vv//////  tome),  circularly 
interlaced,  and  ccjnnected  externally  with  rough  linl\-  fibres  of 
some  species  of  Ascicpias,?a\<\  blended  with  caterpillar's  webs. 
The  lining  was  made  of  a  few  hog's  bristles,  slender  root-fibres, 
a  mat  of  the  down  of  fern-stalks,  and  one  or  two  feathers  of 
the  Robin's  breast,  —  a  curious  medley,  l)Ut  all  answering  the 
pose  of  warmth  and  shelter  for  the   expected  brood.     I  saw 
several  of  these  nests,  which  had  at  different  times  been  thrown 
to  the  ground,  and  in  all,  the  wiry  grass  and  general  material 
were   the   same  as   in   the  one   now   described  ;    and   this,  of 
course,  is  entirely  different  from  that  given  by  Wilson  on  the 
authority  of  Mr.  Abbot.     The  nest  there  mentioned  is  nothing 
more  than  the  usual  pendulous  f;ibric  of  the  Red-eyed  Warbling 
Flycatcher.      The  eggs  in  ours  were  4,  and,  advanced  towards 
VOL.  I.  —  16 


'  \\ 


i  \ 


I! 

!  1 


!' 


242 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


••V 
1 1 


%■ 


hatching,  they  were  white,  with  a  shght  tinge  of  green,  very 
full  of  small  pale  brown  spots,  somewhat  more  numerous 
towards  the  larger  end.  where  they  apjjear  connected  or  aggre- 
gated around  a  purplish  ground.  '  The  female  made  some  little 
complaint,  but  almost  immediately  resumed  her  seat,  though  2 
of  the  eggs  were  taken  away  ;  the  male  made  off  immediately, 
and  was  but  seldom  seen  near  the  place. 

The  Pine  Warbler  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  New  Entr- 
land,  but  I  seldom  saw  it  in  New  Brunswick,  and  can  find  no  evi. 
dcnce  of  its  occurrence  in  Nova  Scotia.  Mr.  Neilson  thinks  it 
uncommon  in  the  vicii.ity  of  (2uebec  city,  and  Mr.  Mcllwraith 
makes  a  similar  report  for  Ontario,  while  Mr.  Thompson  reports 
it  common  in  Manitoba.     It  winters  in  the  Southern  States. 


PRAIRIE    WARBLER. 
Dexdroica  discolor. 

Char.  Above,  olive;  back  with  patch  of  red  spots;  forehead,  line 
over  the  eyes,  wing-bars,  and  entire  under  ])arts  rich  yellow  ;  black  streak 
on  sides  of  head ;  sides  spotted  with  black  ;  3  outer  tail-feathers  with 
broad  patches  of  white.     Length  4J2  to  5  inches. 

A\-s/.  In  open  woodland  or  old  meadow,  on  sinall  tree  or  1nish  ;  neatly 
and  compactly  made  of  grass  and  vegetable  fibre  lined  with  hair  or 
feathers. 

Ei^li^s.  4-5  ;  white,  spotted  around  larger  end  with  brown  ;  0.63  X 
0.47. 

These  birds,  rare  in  the  Atlantic  States,  appear  to  be  some- 
what more  common  in  the  solitary  barrens  of  Kentucky  and 
the  open  woods  of  the  Choctaw  country.  Here  they  prefer  the 
open  plains  thinly  covered  with  trees ;  and  without  betraying 
alarm  at  the  visits  of  a  spectator,  leisurely  pursue  their  search 
for  caterpillars  and  small  flies,  examining  among  the  leaves  or 
hopping  among  the  branches,  and  at  times  descending  pretty 
near,  and  familiarly  examining  the  observer,  with  a  confidence 
and  curiosity  seldom  witnessed  in  these  shy  and  retiring 
species.  Such  was  the  conduct  of  a  male  bird  in  this  vicinity, 
on  the  4th  of  Jime,  whom  I  discovered  by  his  slender  filing 
notes,  which  were  uttered  every  half  minute,  and  like  those  of 


I :    'I, 


\j 


PRAIRIE   WARllLER, 


^43 


0.63  X 


search 
laves  or 
pretty 
idence 
retiring 
|icinity, 
filing 
lose  of 


tlie  ]!lack-poll  Warbler  resembled  the  suppressed  syllables  7j// 
'/sh  Us/i  '/s/h'ii\  beginning  low,  and  gradually  growing  louder, 
having  nearly  the  same  slender  whistle  as  that  species,  though 
somewhat  stronger.  The  pair  were  busily  engaged  collecting 
Hies  and  larva;  from  a  clump  of  young  locust-trees  in  thr  wotjds 
of  Mount  Auburn,  and  occasionally  they  flitted  amcjiig  the 
\irginian  junijjers ;  the  familiar  visit  of  the  male  appeared  for 
the  purjiose  of  discovering  my  intentions  near  the  nest,  about 
which  he  was  naturally  solicitous,  though  he  made  his  aj)- 
proaches  with  the  appearance  of  accident.  'Ihe  female  was 
more  timid  ;  yet  while  I  was  still  engaged  in  viewing  this  little 
interesting  and  secluded  l)air,  she,  without  any  precaution  or 
concealment,  went  directly  to  the  nest  in  the  forks  of  a  low 
barberry  bush  near  by,  and  when  there,  she  sat  and  looked  at 
me  some  time  before  she  removed.  She  made,  however,  no 
pretences  to  draw  me  away  from  the  sjjot,  where  she  was  sit- 
ting on  4  eggs,  of  which  I  took  away  2  ;  her  ap])roaches  to  the 
nest  were  now  more  cautious,  and  she  came  escorted  and  en- 
couraged by  the  presence  of  her  mate.  Two  eggs  were  again 
soon  added,  and  the  young  brood,  I  believe,  reared  without 
any  accident. 

The  nest  was  scarcely  distinguishable  from  that  of  the  Sum- 
mer Yellow  Bird,  and  quite  different  from  the  nests  described 
by  ^^'ilson  and  Audubon.  My  oj^portunity  for  examination, 
so  long  continued,  seemed  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  error 
in  the  investigation  ;  neither  can  I  compare  the  slender  note 
of  this  species  to  any  7vhirri)ii:^  sound,  which  would  more 
nearly  approach  to  the  song  of  the  Pine  Warbler.  'l"he  Prairie 
Warbler  visits  Cambridge  about  the  first  or  second  week  in 
May,  and  according  to  the  observations  of  my  friend  Mr. 
Cooper,  is  seen  probably  about  the  same  time  in  the  vicinity 
of  New  York  in  small  numbers  and  in  pairs,  and  retires  to 
winter  in  the  West  Indies  about  the  middle  of  September. 

This  species  is  now  considered  -  jnimon  in  Massachusetts, 
though  it  lias  not  been  taken  farther  northward.  It  occurs  in 
Michigan,  but  not  in  Ontario,  and  breeds  southward  to  Fiorid.i. 
It  winters  in  southern  i'lorida  and  the  West  Indies. 


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li. 

PARULA   WARBLER. 

BLUE  VELLOW-BACKED    WARBLER. 

CoMI'StnilLVPIS    A.MKKICANA. 

Char.  Male;  above,  bviglit  ashy  blue,  an  olive  patch  on  the  back; 
throat  and  breast  yellow,  a  |)atch  of  rich  brown  on  the  breast ;  belly 
white  ;  wings  with  2  broa  1  white  bars  ;  white  patches  on  inner  web  of 
outer  tail-feathers.  Female  :  similar,  but  colors  duller  and  the  patches  on 
back  and  breast  obscure  or  absent.     Length  ^'2  to  \';^  inches. 

At'.fA  In  moist  v.oodland  or  on  border  of  swamp;  usually  in  a  bunch 
of  "beard-moss"  (jtsiuu)  hanging  from  the  trunk  or  branch  of  a  tree  10 
to  40  feet  from  the  ground,  and  composed  of  threads  of  the  moss  and  tine 
grass  or  hair  compactly  woven ;  sometimes  lined  with  ])ine-needles  or 
hair. 

^K>^-  3~7  (usually  4);  white  or  creamy,  thickly  spotted  with  several 
shades  of  reddish  brown  ;  0.65  X  0.45. 

This  remarkable  species  visits  the  ]\ Fiddle  and  Northern 
States  about  the  1st  to  the  15th  of  May,  and  is  seen  again 
early  in  October  on  its  way  to  the  West  Indies  (St.  Domingo 
and  Porto  Rico),  whither  it  retires  at  the  approach  of  winter. 
A  few,  according  to  Catesby,  pass  the  whole  year  in  Sou^h  Car- 
olina, It  is  very  abundant  in  the  summer  in  the  woods  of 
Kentucky,  is  active  and  restless  on  its  first  arrival,  and  fre- 
quents the  summits  of  the  highest  trees,  being  particularly 
fond  of  the  small  caterpillars  and  flies  of  various  kinds  which 
are,  in  the  early  part  of  spring,  attracted  to  the  open  blossoms 
and  tender  shoots.  It  also  possesses  in  some  degree  the 
creeping  and  pryii.g  habits  of  the  Titmouse,  to  which  genus  it 
it  was  referred  by  Linnteus  and  Pennant.     Entering  the  south- 


BLACK-THROATED    BLUE   WAKl'.LLR. 


24: 


cm  extremity  ot"  the  I'nion  by  the  first  approach  of  spriiii;,  it 
is  now  seen  searchmg  for  its  insect  food  on  shrubs  and  plants 
in  moist  places,  bv  the  borders  of  lakes  and  streams.  In  this 
vicinity  it  is  not  common  ;  but  as  it  was  singing  as  late  as  the 
2  2(1  of  May  in  the  woody  solitude  of  the  lUue  Mills  of 
Milton,  it  must  undoubtedly  breed  there. 

The  notes  of  this  species  resemble  those  of  the  I'rairie 
Warbler  in  some  respects,  though  sutticiently  different ;  the 
tones,  rising  from  low  to  high,  are  rather  weak  and  insignificant. 

In  Nuttall's  dav  this  dainty  bird  was  named  ••  I'arty-colorcd  War- 
bler "  and  ''  Finch  Creeper.''  It  is  a  rather  Lommon  summer  resi- 
dent in  .Massachusetts.  Connecticut,  and  Rhode  Island,  and  breeds 
nt)rth\vard  to  the  (Julf  of  St.  Lawrence.  The  nests  have  been 
found  also  in  northern  (Jhio  and  southern  Illinois,  and  in  winter 
tlie  birds  range  through  southern  Florida  and  among  the  moie 
northern  West  Indies. 

The  I'arula  is  associated  in  mv  mind  with  secluded  woods  on 
cool  and  siiaded  hill-sides  bordering  a  stream,  and  the  song  eomes 
to  me  from  amitl  the  top  branches  of  tall  trees.  —  birch  and  jxiplar. 
It  is  an  attractive  song,  though  it  has  little  theme.  —  merely  a 
rapid  trill  of  some  twenty  sibilant  notes  delivered  with  a  rising  in- 
riection  :  but  the  tones  are  sweet,  and  the  effect  is  pleasing.  The 
song  is  clearly  an  outburst  of  joyous  emotion. 


'thern 
again 
I  n  in  go 
(•inter. 
Car- 
ols of 

1  fre- 
lularly 
Khirh 

isoms 
the 

hns  it 

louth- 


BLACK-THROATED  BLUE  WARBLER. 
Dendroica  c.f.rui.f.scf.ns. 

Char.  M.-xle  :  aliove,  dull  blue,  b.ick  sometimes  streaked  with  black  ; 
sides  of  head,  throat,  and  chest  rich  black;  remainder  of  under  parts 
white;  white  spot  on  wing;  tail  with  large  white  blotches.^  Female; 
above,  dull  olive;  beneath,  dull  greenish,  yellow ;  white  spot  on  wing. 
Length  5  to  5)2  inches. 

A'c-sf.  In  deep  woods  amid  thick  underbrush  or  on  high  branch  ;  of 
grass,  twigs,  vines,  and  lichens,  fastened  with  insect  silk,  lined  with  roots 
and  hair. 

^A'S''^-  3~5 ;  white,  with  green  or  buff  tint,  often,  when  fresh,  tinged 
with  rosy,  marked  with  large  s])ots  f)f  reddish  brown  ;  c.70  X  0.50. 

Of  this  uncommon  species  we  know  ver>'  little.  It  ajipears 
only  as  a  transient  visitor  in  the  month  of  April,  in  the  Middle 


ill' 


I    t| 


1         ' 


I'll 


24^ 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


lif  ■  w 


\ 


Stntes,  nnd  after  staying  to  feed  for  a  u'eek  or  ten  days,  it 
l)rococ(ls  to  its  northern  breeding-place  in  the  wilds  of  Canada, 
of  which  wc  are  wholly  ignorant.  In  November  1  have  ob- 
served a  few  on  their  return  to  the  South,  and  according  to 
Vieillot,  they  winter  in  Si.  Domingo  and  other  of  the  lar^^er 
West  India  islands. 

Near  Farranville,  on  the  Susquehanna,  within  the  range  of 
the  Alleghany  Mountains,  in  the  month  of  May,  I  saw  and 
heard  several  pairs  of  this  rare  sjiecies  in  the  shady  hemlock- 
trees.  The  males  were  uUering  their  slender,  wiry,  and  very 
])eculiar  notes,  while  busily  engagetl  in  foraging  for  insects, 
and  seemed,  by  being  paired,  to  prepare  f  jr  incubation. 

The  Pine  Swam])  \\'ari)ler  (.SV/rvV/  sp/iai^nosa)  is  now  consid- 
ered only  as  the  young  of  this  species,  of  which,  however,  I 
think  there  yet  remains  some  doubt. 

The  history  of  this  si)ccies  need  no  Ioniser  remain  a  ir.vstery.  for 
while  not  abundant,  its  ncstinj;-  habits  may  be  studied  in  any  suita- 
ble locality  in  northern  New  Knglaml  or  nortiiern  New  York,  and 
westward  to  tlie  Plains,  or  along  the  higher  altitudes  of  the  AUe- 
ghanies  as  tar  down  as  Georgia:  though  the  major  p-ii'^ion  of  the 
Hocks  pass  on  to  the  Canadian  faunal  area  before  stopping  to  build. 

T  did  not  meet  with  many  examples  in  New  Brunswick,  and  'Sir. 
Neilson  thinks  it  rare  near  Ouc!)cc  city,  but  Mr.  Wintle  calls  it 
common  near  Montreal,  and  the  Ontario  oljservers  also  regard  it 
aj  common.     It  winters  in  Florida  as  well  as  In  the  West  Indies. 


i!  mi 


i  4-.{ 


'   1 

I 

KENTUCKY  WARBLER. 

GkOTHI.VPIR    FORMOSA. 

Char.  Above,  olive;  crown  and  sides  of  head  and  neck,  bla'; ;  line 
from  nostril  to  and  around  the  eye  yellow;  beneath,  yellow,  the  sides 
shaded  with  olive.     Length  5J2  to  5^4  inches. 

jVt'st.  On  the  ground,  in  rather  thick  woods  ;  a  bulky  aflair  of  loosely 
laid  leaves  and  grass,  lined  with  vegetable  down,  roots,  or  hair. 

^;';;'-.r.  4-6;  white  o.  creamy,  spotted  with  lilac  and  several  shades  of 
brown  ;  0.73  X  O.56. 

This  beautiful  species,  first  described  by  Wilson,  frequents 
the  dark  forests  of  the  southwestern  parts  of  the  Union,  being 


CERULEAN    WARUl.ER. 


247 


it 


;  line 
le  sides 

loosely 

pdes  of 

jquents 
being 


particularly  abiintlant  in  Louisiana,  and  not  uncommon  in  Ken- 
tucky and  Tcnnt-'sscc,  and  from  thence  inh  ibiting  throughout 
the  country  l(^  the  estuaries  of  the  Mississijipi.  It  frecjuents 
low,  damp  woods  and  the  desolate  borders  of  the  lagoons, 
cane-brakes,  and  swamjjs  near  the  banks  of  the  great  rivers. 
It  arrives  in  Kentucky  abcjut  tiie  middle  of  April,  but  enters 
the  southern  extremity  of  the  L'nion  from  Mexico  by  the  same 
time  in  March,  and  by  the  mitldle  of  September  retires  south 
of  the  United  States.  The  males  are  very  ])Ugnacious  in  the 
pairing  season  of  spring,  and  utter  some  loud  notes,  in  threes, 
resembling  the  sound  o{ 'tzoced/e  ttofedh' tiuiw/Zr.  The  nest  is 
often  attached  to  stems  of  stout  weeds,  or  placed  in  a  tuft  of 
grass.  It  is  made  of  the  dry  bark  of  herbaceous  jjlants,  mixed 
with  downy  substances,  and  lined  with  the  ci^tton  of  the  seed 
of  the  wild  poplar.  The  species  is  scarcely  known  to  the  east 
of  North  Carolina. 

In  the  A.  O.  U.  checklist  the  habitat  of  this  s])ecies  is  j^ivcn  as 
"Eastern  United  States,  west  to  the  Plains,  and  north  to  soutliern 
New  England  and  southern  Michiijjan.  In  winter.  West  Indies 
and  Central  America.*'  It  is  most  abundant  aloni;  the  Mississippi 
valley,  and  has  been  seen  but  rarely  east  of  the  Alleghanies. 
There  isonlyone  record  of  its  occurrence  in  New  England.  —  a  i)air 
taken  in  1876,  at  Suffield,  Conn.  Mr.  John  Xeilson  reports  that  a 
pair  were  frequently  seen  l)y  him  near  the  city  of  Quebec  during 
the  early  part  of  July.  1S79. 

Tliose  who  have  heard  the  song  pronounce  it  an  attractive 
melody,  the  tones  being  loud  and  clear  and  the  theme  jilcasini:;. 
Mr.  Wm.  Brewster  ranks  it  among  the  best  of  the  Sylvicoline  per- 
formances. 


CERULEAN  WARBLER. 

BLUE   WARBLER. 
DeNDROICA    C/ERULEA. 

Char.  Male:  above,  bright  azure  blue,  sides  of  head  and  back 
streaked  with  black  ;  line  of  dusky  blue  through  the  eyes  ;  wings  with 
two  white  bars;  all  tail-feathers  but  inner  pair  ])atched  with  white;  be- 
neath, white ;  breast  and  sides  streaked  with  dusky  blue.  Female : 
similar  but  upper  parts  tinged  with  olive,  and  under  parts  tinged  with 
yellow.     Length  4)4^  to  5  inches. 

Nest.     In  open  woodland,  on  horizontal  bough  30  to  50  feet  from  the 


li 


iHI 


248 


SINGIXr,   niRDS. 


iff: 


It 


I 


11^'' 


in- 


ft.': 


ground;  of  g'ass  and  liclicns  fastened  with  insect  silk,  lined  with  fine 
grass. 

/t';;vV'  4;  w'litc  with  j^rccii  or  bhie  tint,  spotted  chieliy  around  the 
larger  end  with  icddisii  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.70  X  ^1.53. 

This  very  dt'licatfly  colored  s])ecies  is  among  the  rarest 
suniti/  icnts  of  the  Atlantic  States,  and  does  not  probably 

migrate  ur  rather  stray  farther  north  tha?\  the  State  of  New 
\'ork.  In  the  Scnithwestern  States,  particularly  Temiessee  and 
West  Florida,  it  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  s|)ecies;  it  is  also 
foimd  in  the  western  wilderness  beyond  the  Mississip|)i.  It  is 
only  in  the  Minnner  that  it  ventures  into  the  Middle  States, 
from  which  it  retires  almost  before  the  first  chills  of  '.iitumn.  or 
by  the  middle  of  Aiignst.  It  fre(iuents  the  borders  of  streams 
and  marshes,  and  possesses  many  of  the  habits  of  the  l-'ly- 
catchers,  warbling  also  at  times  in  a  lively  manner,  and 
though  its  song  be  short,  it  is  at  the  same  time  sweet  and 
mellow. 

The  ])rincipal  range  of  this  daintilv  dressed  songster  is  through 
the  southwestern  division  of  this  Eastern  Province,  butweeu  the 
valley  of  the  Mississippi  and  tlu'  /MIeudianian  hills,  north  to  Ohio 
(where  it  is  abundant),  southern  Ontario,  Indiana,  and  Illinois. 
It  occasionally  wanders  eastward  to  central  New  \'ork,  Rhode 
Island,  and  Connecticut. 

Nuttall  copied  Audubon  when  characterizing  the  song  of  this 
species  as  ''  sweet  and  mellow." 

Wilson,  who  discovered  the  bird  and  named  it  the  Blue-green 
Warbler,  described  the  note  as  "  a  feeble  chirp."  Between  the 
opposed  opinions  of  these  fathers  of  American  ornithology  comes 
the  report  of  a  recent  observer,  Mr.  William  Brewster,  who  found 
the  species  abundant  in  West  Virginia.  "  At  best  it  is  a  modest 
little  strain,  and  far  from  deserving  the  encomium  passed  upon  it 
by  Audubon  ;  "  and  again,  "  The  song  is  a  guttral  trill  much  like 
that  of  the  Blue  Yellow-backed  Warbler." 


'I  ^"!' 


- 

;               i:,- 

J                         1 

1 

j 

i 

^    '  1 

1 

1 

i 

■»^» 


MARVI.AM)  \i;i,IO\V-'lIIK()\'r. 

CiKOTMI.M'IS    IkK  HAS. 

f'HAR.  Above,  olive,  (hilkr  on  tlif  Ir.uI.  iMiuhtci  on  nmii) ;  fore- 
head and  broad  l)and  on  side  of  iicad  black,  with  whitish  border;  litncath 
rich  yellow,  palei  i>n  tlic  l)ellv.     I.eni;tli  4  V  to  5'^  inclies. 

.Vis/.  Iliililen  bv  tni't  of  }4ra>s,  or  iinid  thicket  of  briers,  usually  in  a 
moist  woodland  or  on  border  of  swamp;  composed  exteriorly  of  loosely 
laid  grass,  twii;s.  etc  ,  lined  with  fine  gia^^s  compactlv  woven. 

/•?;';;'.f.  4-6;  white,  sometimes  creamy,  spotted  around  larj;er  end  with 
brown  and  lilac  ;  often  a  few  black  spots  and  lines  ;  0.70  x  052. 

'I'liis  common  and  familiar  sj)C(-ics  extends  its  sinnnur  mi- 
grations from  Florida  to  Nova  Scotia,  arri\in,u  in  I'cnnsyKania 
towards  the-  mido  j  of  April,  and  in  this  part  (.>(  New  l-'.ngland 
about  ihc  first  week  in  May.  The  majurit\-  return  to  the  South 
in  Sejitember  ;  a  few  stragglers  of  the  young,  houc\er,  ma\  be 
seen  to  the  first  week  in  ( )ctober,  and  though  some  may  re- 
main and  winter  in  the  Southern  States,  it  is  more  probable 
that  the  main  body  retire  at  this  season  into  the  interior  of 
tropical  America,  as  they  were  seen  late  in  autumn  aroimd 
Vera  Cruz  by  the  naturalist  antl  traveller  Mr.  ISullock.  Marly 
\n  the  month  of  March,  however,  I  heard  this  species  singing 
11  the  forests  of  West  Florida. 

The  Maryland  Yellow-Throat,  with  cheerful  devotedness  to  the 
great  object  of  his  summer  migration,  —  the  attachments  and 
cares  of  his  species,  —  passes  his  time  near  some  shady  rill  of 
water,  amidst  briers,  brambles,  alders,  and  such  other  shrubbery 
as  grows  in  low  and  watery  situations.    Unambitious  to  be  seen, 


250 


SINGING   IIIKDS. 


♦I!.' 


!iM 


t' 

% 


J     I 

11 

he  seldom  ascends  above  the  tops  of  the  underwood,  where  he 
dwells,  busily  employed  in  collecting  the  insects  on  which  he 
feeds.     After  these,  like  the  Wren,  he  darts  into  the  iUei>est 
thicket,  and  threads  his  devious  way  through  every  opening  ; 
he  searches  around   the  stems,  examines  beneath  the  leaves, 
and  raising  himself  on  his  peculiarly  pale  and  slender  legs, 
peeps  into  each  crevice  in  order  to  seize  by  surprise  his  tiny 
lurking  l)rey.     While  thus  engaged,  his  affection  to  his  neigh- 
boring mate  is  not  forgotten,  and  with  a  simplicity,  agreeable 
and    characteristic,    he    twitters    forth    at    sliort    intervals    his 
^whititctee  'whi/ifffce  'iv/ii/i/c/rr,  but  his  more  common  song  is 
'loliifti/s/u-f  ^whitittslu'c,  or  'K'tt'ilshce  70itilslu'e  wee  ;  and  some- 
times 1  have  heartl  his  note  like,  'wetitsliee  ivctitshec,  'loifyii 
70t\     On  this  last  s)  liable  a  plaintive  sinking  of  the  voice  n-n- 
ders  the  lively,  earnest  ditty  of  the  active  minstrel  peculiarly 
agreeable.     Co])ying  a|)parently  from  the  Cardinal    \]iu\,  the 
song  was,  in  one   instance,  which  came  to  my  notice,  'vifiyii 
^vifiyii  ^vit'iyii.     The  whole  is  likewise  often  varied  and  lowert-d 
into   a   slender   whisper,   or   tender   revery  of  vocal    instinct. 
Sometimes    he    calls    out,    tectshoo,    ti'efs/ioo,    and    scu<aidciiit 
sciiHiiifi'iUt  sewaiiritseioee,   or   sacundh/if  sf7<>a/i/i/s/7iur,   as   he 
busily  darts  through  the  blooming  and  odor-breatiung  shrubs 
of  the  grove  or  garden,  which  he  examines  with  minute  atten- 
tion, and  sometimes  springs  perpendicularly  after  his  retreating 
and  discovered  prey.      He  appears  by  no  means  shy  or  sus- 
picious, as  long  as  his  nest  is  unapproached  ;  but  for  the  safety 
of  that  precious  treasure  he  scolds,  laments,  and  entreats  with 
great  anxiety. 

The  species  generally  nest  in  the  recluse  thickets  of  the 
forest,  01  the  low  bu.^hy  meadow ;  but  sometimes  they  take  up 
their  abode  in  the  garden,  or  the  field  contiguous  to  the  house, 
and  if  undisturbed,  show  a  predilection  for  the  plice  which 
has  afforded  security  to  themselves  and  their  young.  They 
commence  their  labor  of  building  about  the  middle  of  May, 
fixing  the  nest  on  or  near  the  ground,  among  dry  leaves, 
withered  grass,  or  brush,  and  choose  often  for  security  the  most 
Intricate  thicket  of  briers,  so  that  the  nest  is  often  sheltered 


MOLRMNLi    WAUULEk. 


251 


and  concealed  by  projecting  weeds  and  grass.  Sometimes  a 
mere  tiissiu  k  of  grass  or  accitknt  il  pile  of  brn>h  is  cho>cn. 
It  is  made  of  ilry  ^edge-grass  (  Ciinw),  and  a  lew  leaves  loo>ely 
wound  together  and  supported  by  the  weeds  or  twig>  where  it 
rests;  the  lining  consists  entirely  of  tine  l)ent-gra>-.  ( ./;,'/i/..//( ). 
'I'hc  young  leave  the  nest,  here,  about  the  mid«lle  of  June, 
and  a  second  brood  is  sometnnes  raised  in  the  ( ourse  of 
the  season.  I  he  parents  and  young  now  rove  about  in 
restless  prying  troops,  and  take  to  the  most  secluded  bushy 
marshes,  where  tluy  pass  their  time  \n  comparative  security 
till  the  arrival  of  that  period  of  scarcity  which  warns  them  to 
dei)art.  As  early  as  the  close  of  July,  the  lively  song  of  the 
male  ceases  to  be  heard,  and  the  whole  i)arty  now  forage  in 
silence. 

This  species  "  breeds  from  the  Gulf  States  to  Manitoba  and 
Labrador;  wiiUcrs  from  the  Ciulf  States  southward."     (Chapman.) 


Note.  —  The  Western  form  has  lately  been  separated  from  true 
trichas  and  given  varietal  rank  with  tlie  luiinc  G.  trichas  iKiiifi  ntalis. 
Its  habitat  is  from  the  .Mississippi  valley  to  the  Pacific.  It  is  some- 
what larger  and  more  brigiitly  colored  than  is  the  eastern  race. 
Another  geographical  race,  the  P'i.okida  VKr.Low-THRoAT  {G. 
irii/ius  is^'iiota),  ditlVrs  from  typical  (rh/uis  in  havint;  the  yellow  of 
under  parts  of  deeper  shade  and  greater  e.\tenl ;  the  facial  mask  is 
wider  also. 


MOURN IXC;    WARDI.l'.R. 

CiKOTHLVriS    PHII..\DF.I.Pni.\. 

Char.  Above,  olive  ;  head,  neck,  and  brca.-t  a.shy  ;  breast  mottled  with 
black  ;  remainder  of  under  parts  yellow.     Length  5 '4  to  f'^  inches. 

X't.  In  open  woodland  or  pasture,  on  the  ground  or  in  low  tree  or 
bush  ;  of  vegetable  fibre,  lined  with  hair. 

E^X-'^.  3-5  ;  white  or  creamy,  with  brown  and  lilac  spots  wreathed 
around  the  larger  end;  0.70  X  0.54. 

Wilson,  the  discoverer  of  this  curious  species,  never  met  with 
more  than  a  single  individual,  which  in  its  habits  of  frequent- 


.    i       1 

1 

2^2 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


Mi 


tl' 


VI U^ 


ing  marshy  ground,  and  flitting  through  low  bushes  in  quest  of 
insects,  a]jpears  very  similar  to  the  Maryland  Yellow-throat. 
'I'hc  discoverer,  however,  also  distinguished  it  more  importantly 
by  the  }wvclty  of  its  sprightly  and  pleasant  warble  ;  we  may 
therefore  perhaps  consiiler  it  as  a  solitary  straggler  from  the 
main  body  in  the  western  regions  of  this  vast  continent.  It 
was  shot  in  the  early  part  of  June  near  Philadelphia. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1S31.  I  saw,  as  I  believe,  the  male  of 
this  species  in  the  dark  shrubbery  of  the  Botanic  Garden 
(Cambridge) .  It  possessed  all  the  manners  of  the  common 
species,  was  equally  busy  in  search  of  insects  in  the  low  bushes, 
and  at  little  intervals  warbled  out  some  very  pleasant  notes, 
which  though  they  resembled  the  lively  chant  of  the  Maryland 
Yellow-throat,  even  to  the  7i.'c/ifslu-t\  yet  they  were  more  agree- 
ably varied,  so  as  to  approach  in  some  degree  the  song  of  the 
Summer  Yellow  l>ird  i^Syhia  asfira).  This  remarkable  note, 
indeed,  set  me  in  ([uest  of  the  bird,  which  I  followed  for  some 
time  ;  but  at  last,  perceiving  himself  watched,  he  left  the  gar- 
den. As  far  as  I  was  able  to  observe  this  individual,  he  was 
above  of  a  dark  olive-green,  very  cinereous  on  the  lore  part  of 
the  head,  with  a  band  of  black  through  the  eyes,  which  de- 
scended from  the  side  of  the  neck,  where  at  length  it  joined 
v.iih  a  crescent  of  dusky  or  black  spots  upon  the  breast;  the 
throat  was  yellow  and  the  under  parts  paler. 

Mr.  Townsend  saw  a  specimen  on  the  shady  borders  of  the 
Schuylkill  in  the  month  of  May  last,  and  a  second  individual 
has  been  obtained  by  "Sir.  l)e  Rham  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York. 
Two  or  three  other  specimens  have  also  been  obtained  in  the 
vicinity  of  Thiladelphia  and  in  New  Jersey.  It  is,  however, 
still  a  very  rare  species,  and  its  proper  habitation  lo  yet  to  be 
discovered. 


h 


This  is  still  a  rare  bird  in  many  localities,  and  it  is  among  the 
desiderata  of  most  collectors ;  yet  within  the  limits  of  Us  favorite 
breeding  areas,  —  at  the  higher  altitudes  of  the  Aileghanies  ;  on  the 
Berkshire  Hills;  along  the  northern  borders  of  \'ermont  and  New 
Hnmi^shire;  in  portions  of  New  York;  and  elsewhere  between  the 
Atlantic  coast  and  the  Plains  where  suitable  conditions  of  environ- 


m 


CONNECTICUT  WARBLER. 


253 


)ined 
the 

f  the 
■idual 

ork. 
11  the 

ever, 
to  be 


the 
/orite 
)n  the 

New 
'11  the 
riron- 


ment  are  obtainable.  —  tlie  Mournini,^  Warbler  is  not  at  all  rare, 
and  in  the  West  —  in  Minnesota,  Dakota,  and  .Manitolxx  —  it  is 
deeidedly  abundant.  Evidently  it  has  no  spceial  liking;-  for  the 
Maritime  Provinees  nor  lor  any  portion  of  Canada  east  of  Lake 
Winnipeg,  for  Canadian  ol)servers  in  t^eneral  report  it  rare  or 
uncommon.  Vet  one  of  the  few  nests  that  have  been  discovered 
was  secured  by  Mr.  Kells,  near  Listowel,  in  Ontario.  This  nest 
was  in  a  cedar  swamp  ami  placed  on  the  horizontal  branch  i)f 
a  small  tree  (|uite  close   to  the  ^rcniiu!. 

The  examples  I  saw  in  New  I5runswick  were  in  small  Hocks,  and 
were  a  very  busy  and  very  merry  company,  —  busy  in  searching  for 
their  food,  moving  in  most  sprightly  and  vivacious  manner,  and 
making  merry  with  sweet  voices.  The  song  consists  (-f  a  tew  sim- 
ple notes,  but  the  birds  frequently  ascend  to  a  high  perch  to  delivei" 
it  and  sing  on  as  if  much  pleased  with  the  performance.  Merriam 
reports  them  singing  thus  for  half  an  hour  at  a  time. 


CONNECTICUT  WARBLER. 

GKAV-HEADED    WARBLER. 
Gf.othlypis  AGILIS. 

Char.  Male  :  above,  olive  ;  head,  neck,  and  breast  ashy,  darkest  on 
breast  and  crown,  lightest  on  the  throat  ;  white  ring  around  the  eyes  ; 
chest  and  belly  yellow,  sides  shaded  with  olive.  Female  :  similar,  but 
without  ashy  tint  on  the  head;  throat  tinged  with  brown;  belly  paler. 
Length  5'<  to  6  inches. 

jVcsf.  Hidden  on  a  tuft  of  weeds,  or  sunk  in  mossy  mound,  in  >waini)y 
woods  ;  composed  of  dried  grass. 

Jti^^s.  4-  ? ;  creamy,  spotted,  chiefly  around  tiie  larger  end.  wiih  lilack, 
brown,  and  lilac;  0.75  —  0.55. 

This  mre  species,  tliscovereci  by  Wilson  in  ConnectitMit  and 
afterwards  in  the  neighborhood  of  Philadeli)hia.  appears  to 
frequent  low  thickets,  and  is  exceedingly  active  in  pursuit  f)f 
its  prey,  scarcely  remaining  a  moment  i'l  the  same  idace. 
Wilson  afterwards  shot  two  specimens  of  a  bird  which  in  every 
partictilar  agreed  with  the  above,  except  in  having  the  throat 
dull  buff  instead  of  pale  ash.  These  were  both  females,  as  he 
supposed,  of  the  present  species. 

The  historv  of  this  bird  is  still  interestingly  obscure,  so  much 
has  yet  to  be  learned;  but  gleaning  from  records  made  by  obser- 
vers in  various  parts  of  the  country,  I  am  enabled  to  add  a  little  to 
Nuttall's  account. 


IM 


I    I 


r  f- 

'       1 

254 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


IF 

'■!■. 

i 


I  ! 


iii 


The  bird  has  been  taken  throughout  the  greater  part  of  this 
Eastern  Province;  but  its  distribution  appears,  from  the  evidence 
so  far  gatliered,  to  be  somewhat  pecuHar.  It  winters  in  Mexico 
and  soutlnvard,  and  in  tlie  spring  migrates  wholly  along  the  Missis- 
sippi valley,  where  it  is  more  or  less  abundant  north  to  Manitoba, 
though  it  is  rarely  seen  at  that  season  to  the  eastward  of  Illinois. 
It  breeds  in  Minnesota,  Dakota,  and  Manitoba,  and  in  the  au- 
tumn part  of  the  flocks  go  south  along  the  Mississippi,  while  others 
pass  eastward  along  the  shores  of  the  Great  Lakes,  and  thence  to 
Massachusetts,  the  most  northern  limit  of  the  bird's  range  on 
the  Atlantic  side,  where  it  is  common  during  the  first  half  of 
September,  after  which  the  Hocks  continue  on  a  gradual  movement 
southward. 

Dr.  Wheaton  considered  the  species  very  rare  in  Ohio,  and  it 
was  thought  to  l)e  rare  in  Ontario  until  18S4,  when  my  friend  Wil- 
liam Saunders  found  it  common  in  the  vicinity  of  London.  The 
only  nest  yet  taken  was  discovered  by  another  friend  and  fellow- 
worker  Ernest  'I'liompson.  It  was  found  near  Carberry,  Manitoba, 
in  1883,  sunk  amid  a  mossy  mound  in  a  tamarack  swamp,  —  "a 
dark,  gray  waste.'' 

In  the  West,  during  the  spring  migrations,  these  birds  are  exceed- 
ingly active  and  very  shy,  moving  incessantly  among  the  branches 
in  quest  of  insects,  and  when  approached  darting  into  the  thickest 
covers ;  but  those  I  saw  on  the  Fresh  Pond  marsh  at  Cambridge 
fed  chietiy  on  the  ground,  among  the  leaves,  and  when  disturbed 
flew  generally  but  a  short  distance  to  a  low  branch,  and  sat  as  com- 
posedly as  a  Thrush. 

Thompson  describes  the  song  as  similar  to  the  Golden-crowned 
Thrush,  and  says  it  may  be  suggested  by  the  syllables  bcechcr- 
bcii  lirr-bi-ccJier-beeclter-beecJier-lh'ccJicr,  sung  at  the  same  pitch 
throughout;  he  adds,  "but  he  also  had  anotlier  which  I  can  recall 
to  mind  by  the  aid  of  the  syllables  frccchaple,  frecchaple^  frcc- 
chaple^  AVHOIT." 

This  same  writer  says  :  "  Connecticut  Warbler  is  an  unfortunate 
misnomer  for  this  species,"  and  he  suggests  "  Swamp  Warbler  ''  or 
"  Tamarac  Warbler"  or  "  l)Og  Black-throat."  "  This  species,"  he 
writes,  "has  somewhat  the  manners  of  the  Vireos,  but  is  much 
more  active  and  sprightly  in  its  movements." 


WORM-EATIXG   WARBLER. 

Hklmithkrus  vermivorus. 

Char.  Above,  olive;  head  buff,  with  four  stripes  of  black;  beneath, 
buff,  paler  on  belly.     Length  5I2  to  ^^^  inches. 

jV^sL  On  the  ground,  often  covered  by  a  bush,  or  beside  a  fallen  log ; 
of  leaves,  moss,  and  gra.ss,  lined  with  moss,  fine  grass,  or  hair. 

Eifi;s.  3-6  (usually  5)  ;  variable  in  shape  and  color-  white,  sometimes 
with  buff  or  pink  tint,  marked  with  fine  spots  of  reddish  brown  and 
lilac;  0.70  X0.55. 

These  birds  arrive  in  Pennsylvania  about  the  middle  of 
May,  and  migrate  to  the  South  towards  the  close  of  Septem- 
ber ;  they  were  seen  feeding  their  young  in  that  State  about 
the  25th  of  June  by  Wilson,  so  that  some  pairs  stay  and  breed 
there.  They  are  very  active  anil  indefatigable  insect-hunters, 
and  have  the  note  and  many  of  the  manners  of  the  Marsh 
Titmouse  or  Chickadee.  About  the  4th  of  October  I  have  seen 
a  pair  of  these  birds  roving  through  the  branches  of  trees  with 
restless  agility,  hanging  on  the  twigs  and  examining  the  trunks, 
in  quest  probably  of  spiders  and  other  lurking  and  dormant 
insects  and  their  larvoe.  One  of  them  likewise  kept  up  a  con- 
stant complaining  call,  like  the  soimd  of  ts/ie  dc  dc. 

According  to  Richardson  this  species  visits  the  fur  coun- 
tries, where  a  single  specimen  was  procured  at  Cumberland 
House,  on  the  banks  of  the  Saskatchewan.  It  is  fotmd  a'  j  in 
Maine  and  the  British  Provinces  of  New  Brunswick  and  Nova 
Scotia.     Dr.    Bachman   says  that  it  breeds  sparingly  in    the 


256 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


swamps  of  Carolina,  as  he  observed  a  pair  followed  ,by  three 
or  four  young  ones  nearly  Hedged,  all  of  which  already  exhibi- 
ted the  markings  on  the  head. 

Ric  liardson  led  Nuttall  into  a  mistake  regarding  the  distribution 
of  lliis  spL'cies.  It  is  a  Suullicrn  bird,  breeding  chictly  suulli  oi  lati- 
tude 40^,  and  occurs  but  rarely  along  the  nordiern  limit  of  its  range, 
—  southern  New  England,  the  southern  sliores  of  Lake  Erie,  and 
southern  Illinois.     It  has  not  been  taken  in  the  Provinces. 

Usually  these  birds  feed  on  the  ground  among  the  dead  leaves, 
but  sometimes  rise  amid  the  branches,  as  described  by  Nuttall. 
They  are  not  '*  shy ""  birtis,  for  they  will  remain  on  the  nest  until 
fairly  driven  off,  and  when  feeding  are  apparently  indifferent  about 
being  watched. 


I 


' 

] 

'1       ^ 

1                 t 

■  1  ■  ■   ■ 

if 

SWAINSON'S   WARBLER. 

H  LLIX.VI.V    SWA  1  NS(  )X  1 1 . 

Ch.\r.  Above,  dull  olive,  head  and  wings  tinged  with  reddish  brown; 
dark  streak  through  the  eyes;  line  over  eyes  and  under  parts  white  with 
yellow  tint ;  sidL's  tinged  with  olive.     Length  5'4  to  6  inches. 

A^'c'sf.  In  a  swamp,  or  near  stagnant  pool,  or  on  dry  upland  ;  in  cane- 
stalk  or  on  bush,  4  to  10  feet  from  the  ground  ;  a  bulky  and  inartistic 
affair  of  dead  leaves,  lined  with  roots  and  iiine-ncedles. 

■^v^■•''•     3-4;  white  with  blue  tint,  unmarked  ;  0.75  X  0.60. 

Dr.  Bachman,  who  discovered  this  species  near  the  banks 
of  the  Edisto  River,  in  South  Carolina,  remarks:  ''I  was  first 
attracted  by  the  novelty  of  its  notes,  four  or  five  in  number, 
repeated  at  inten'als  of  fwc  or  six  minutes  apart.  These  notes 
were  loud,  clear,  and  more  like  a  whistle  than  a  song.  They 
resembled  the  soimd  of  some  extraordinary  ventriloquist  in  such 
a  degree  that  T  supposed  the  bird  much  firther  off  than  it 
really  was  ;  for  after  some  trouble  caused  by  these  fictitious 
notes,  I  observed  it  near  me,  and  soon  shot  it."  These  birds 
appear  to  have  a  predilection  for  swampy,  muddy  places,  usu- 
ally more  or  less  covered  with  water.  They  feed  on  coleop- 
terous insects  and  tie  larvre  which  infest  the  pond-lily.  They 
usually  keep  in  low  bushes,  and  retire  southward  at  the  close 
of  summer.     They  breed,  it  appears,  in  South  Carolina. 


:ft 


PROTIIUNUTARV    WARBLER. 


257 


■  three 
ixhibi- 

ibution 

of  lati- 

5  range, 

rie,  and 

leaves, 

Nuttall. 
est  until 
nt  about 


sh  brown ; 
white  with 


in  cane- 
inartistic 


he  banks 
was  first 
number, 
ese  notes 
They 
,t  in  such 
T  than  it 
fictitious 
,ese  birds 
ces,  ttsti- 
n  coleop- 
They 
the  close 
a. 


1 


|v. 


Until  recently,  naturalists  knew  nothing'  more  of  this  species  than 
Nuttall  put  into  the  above  few  lines  ;  and  tor  that  information  lie  was 
indebted  to  .  .uclubon.  Only  three  examples  w.Te  taken  between 
Audul)on's  time  and  1N73,  when  Nathan  C  Brown  captured  three 
more  in  Alabama;  and  eleven  years  afterwards,  in  1.S84,  William 
Brewster  collected  lilty  specimens  in  the  vicinity  of  Charleston, 
and  iHiblished  in  "The  Auk"  for  January,  1SM5,  an  interestini; 
account  of  the  bird's  habits. 

He  reports  that  he  met  with  this  bird  in  dry,  scrubby  woods  or 
open  orani^e-groves,  thoui;h  it  prefers  the  ranker  growth  of  the 
swamps,  to  which  it  appears  to  be  confinecl  during  the  breeding 
season.  Its  song  is  said  to  be  '"very  loud,  verv  rich,  very  beau 
tiful,  while  it  has  an  indescri])able  tender  quality  that  thrills  the 
senses  after  the  sound  has  ceased." 

The  distril)ution  of  the  species  has  not  yet  been  very  satisfac- 
torily determined,  but  it  prol)ably  occurs  in  all  the  South  Atlantic 
and  Gulf  States,  and  along  the  Mississippi  valley  north  to  Illinois 
and  Indiana. 


PROTHONOTARV   WARP.LER. 

PrOTOXO'J  ARIA    Cn'REA. 

Char.  Head,  neck,  and  under  parts  golden  yellow;  back  bright 
olive  ,  wings,  tail,  and  rump,  bluish  ash  ;  inner  webs  of  tail-teathcrs  white. 
I,ength  about  5J-2  inches. 

A('.f/.  On  the  margin  of  a  stream  or  pond  or  in  a  swamp;  a  cavity  In 
dead  tret,  often  a  deserted  nest  of  Woodpecker  or  Chickadee,  generally 
near  the  ground  ;  lined  with  leaves  and  moss. 

/\i:.^s.  4-7  (usually  6);  white,  or  with  butf  tint,  thickly  spotted  with 
brownish  red  ;  0.70  X  0.55. 

This  beautiful  species  inhabits  the  Southern  States  commonly 
in  summer,  being  plentiful  in  the  low,  dark,  and  swampy  f(jrests 
of  the  Mississippi  near  New  Orleans,  as  well  as  in  Louisiana 
and  the  wilds  of  Florida.  In  these  solitary  retreats  individuals 
are  seen  nimbly  flitting  in  search  of  insects,  caterpillars,  larvai, 
and  small  land  shells,  every  now  and  then  uttering  a  few  creak- 
ing notes  scarcely  deserving  the  name  of  song.  They  some- 
times, though  very  rarely,  proceed  as  far  north  as  Pennsylvania. 
They  appear  to  affect  watery  places  in  swamps  which  abound 
with  lagoons,  and  are  seldom  seen  in  the  woods.  According  to 
VOL.   I.  —  17 


11 


• 


2:;8 


SINC.IXC;    BIRDS. 


1 1 


ijlf  i 


Dr.  Hachman,  these  birds  breed  in  South  CaroHna,  as  he  saw  a 
pair  and  their  younj;  near  Charleston. 

This  species  is  eonimon  in  the  (iulf  States,  and  ranches  aloni^f  the 
Mississijjpi  valley,  bein,^:;  pcciiliarly  abundant  in  southern  Illinois 
and  southwestern  Indiana,  but  near  the  Atlantic  is  rarely  seen 
nouli  of  (icorgia.  A  few  stragglers  have  been  encountered  in 
New  I'higlanfl,  while  one  has  been  taken  at  St.  Stephen,  New 
Brunswick,  by  .Mr.  George  A.  Ik)ardnian,  and  another  near  Hamil- 
ton, Ontario,  by  H.  C.  Mcllwraith. 

It  is  said  to  be  more  deliberate  and  thrushlike  in  its  movements 
than  are  its  si)rightly  congeners,  the  Dcndroicic.  The  song  most 
frequently  heard  is  described  as  a  simple  but  pleasing  whistle,  like 
that  of  the  solitary  Sandpiper,  though  when  the  singer  is  near  at 
hand,  almost  startling  in  its  intensity.  Mr.  lirewster  mentions 
hearing  aiiotlur  song  delivered  on  the  wing,  and  intended  lor  the 
ear  ot  the  mate  alone.  It  is  generally  heard  only  after  incubation 
has  commenced,  and  is  low,  but  very  sweet,  and  resembles  some- 
what the  song  of  a  Canary,  delivered  in  an  undertone. 


if 


i  . 


(1 


BLUE-\VIX(;i:i)    WAKJiLER. 

HeLMINTHOPIIII.A    I'lNUS. 

Char.  Male:  above,  bright  olive;  wings  ami  tail  dull  blue;  winces 
with  two  yellowish  bars  ;  outer  tail  feathers  with  uiiite  l^lotches  :  black 
line  through  the  eye  ;  crown  aiul  uiuier  parts  bright  yelUjw.  I'einale  : 
similar  but  uiuler  i)arts  duller,  aud  yellow  on  head  restricted  to  forehead. 
Length  about  5  inches. 

A^est.  In  a  tuft  of  grass  amid  thicket  of  underbrush  or  along  margin  of 
woods;  bulky,  and  loosely  made  of  dried  leaves  and  vegetable  fibre,  lined 
with  fine  grass. 

Eggs.     4-5;  white,  faintly  speckled  with  brown;  0.60  X  0.50. 

About  the  beginning  of  May  this  species  enters  Pennsylvania 
from  the  South,  and  frequents  thickets  and  shrubberies  in  quest 
of  the  usual  insect  food  of  its  tribe.  At  the  approach  of  win- 
ter, very  different  from  the  Pine  Warbler,  with  which  it  has 
sometimes  been  confotmded,  it  retires  to  pass  the  winter  in 
tropical  America,  having  been  seen  around  Vera  Cruz  in 
autumn  by  Mr.  Bidlock.  On  its  arrival  it  frequents  gardens, 
orchards,  and  willow  trees,  gleaning  among  the  blossoms,  but 
at  length  withdraws  into  the  silent  woods  remote,  from  the 


r.i.rE-Nvi.\c;i:n  \vaki;ler. 


259 


,e  saw  a 

Ions  tlie 
Illinois 
ely  seen 
XcYcd  in 
en,  New 
,r  Haniil- 

ivements 
,)ii<i  most 
istlc,  like 
s  near  at 
nientions 
xl  tor  tlie 
ncubation 
,les  some- 


|)lue  ;  wini^s 

hcs  :  l)Uick 

I'cinalc  : 

lo  torehead. 


haunts  of  men,  to  pass  the  period  of  breeding  and  rearing  its 
young  in  more  security. 

The  apparent  distribution  of  this  species,  judged  by  the  records 
of  recent  observations,  is  somewliat  peculiar.  It  seems  to  be 
abundant  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  this  Eastern  Province,  and 
rarely  ranges  east  of  the  Alleghanian  hills  until  north  ot  40^,  when 
it  spreads  off  to  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic,  though  seldom  going 
beyond  latitude  42°.  '•  It  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  south- 
ern Connecticut,  but  is  not  known  to  occur  regularly  nortii  of 
Hartford,  .iiul  is  most  numerous  in  the  country  imniLcliatcly  Ijorder- 
ing  the  Sound  and  in  the  lower  valley  of  the  Connecticut  River  '' 
(IJrewster).  A  few  examples  only  have  been  taken  in  .Massachu- 
setts, and  though  common  in  Ohio  it  has  not  been  seen  in  Ontario. 
Farther  west  it  is  found  north  to  the  southern  portions  of  Michigan, 
Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota.  It  winters  south  to  eastern  Mexico 
and  Guatemala. 

The  nests  that  have  been  discovered  in  recent  years  are  not 
fashioned  like  that  described  by  Wilson,  for  instead  of  being 
funnel-shaped,  they  have  the  ordinary  cup-like  form. 

Opinions  differ  regarding  the  song,  I)ut  I  am  inclined  to  believe 
that  it  is  a  rapid  trill  of  strong,  sweet  tones,  limited  in  compass  and 
executed  with  little  art,  —  a  merry  whistle  rather  than  an  artistic 
melody.  "  As  a  rule  it  consists  of  the  two  drawled  wheezy  notes 
siccc-chec ;  the  first  inhaled,  the  second  exhaled.  A  less  common 
song  uttered  later  in  the  season  is  ivee,  chg-chH-chS-chS,  chfir,  chee, 
chnr,  and  is  sometimes  accompanied  by  peculiar  kik  notes " 
(Chapman). 


'  )l 


!    J 


In-  margin  i^f 
fibre,  lined 


I  >l 


l-msylvania 
[s  in  quest 
Ih  of  win- 
lich  it  has 
winter  in 
Cruz   in 
gardens, 
[^soms,  but 
from  the 


j 


26o 


SIXGIXn   TURDS. 


Gf)i.i)i:x-\\ iN(;i:n  \\.\Kr.i.i:R. 


HeI.MIX UK  )PIiII,A    CHRVSOFIERA. 


\im  I 


i8l 


i'l^i 


(liAk.  Male:  above,  bluish  grr  y,  sometimes  tinged  with  olive; 
crown  biiglit  yellow ;  side  of  head  yellowish  white,  with  broad  patch  of 
black  from  bill  tlirough  eyes;  wings  with  large  pa'ch  of  bright  yellow; 
blotches  on  tail  white;  beneath,  while  tinged  with  yellow;  throat  blacU  ; 
sides  tinged  with  gray.  I-'em.dc  :  similar,  Imt  colors  duller;  patch  from 
bill  through  eyes,  grayish.     Lengtii  about  5  inches. 

A't-st.  Amid  a  tuft  of  long  grass,  in  moist  meadow  or  damp  margin  of 
woods;  constructed  of  shre(l>  df  hark,  roots,  etc..  lined  with  fine  grass. 

/'^^•^i^s.    4-6;  white  spotted  with  brown  and  lilac,  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  scarce  species  api)ears  only  a  few  clays  in  Pennsylvania 
about  the  last  of  April  or  beginninj.!;  of  May.  It  darts  actively 
through  the  leafy  branches,  and  like  the  Titmouse  examines  the 
stems  for  insects,  and  often  walks  with  the  head  downwards ; 
its  notes  and  actions  are  also  a  good  deal  similar,  in  common 
with  the  Worm-eating  Warbler.  I  have  never  yet  seen  it  in 
Massachusetts,  and  if  it  really  does  proceed  north  to  breed,  it 
must  follow  a  western  route. 

The  Gold  'n-wing  still  remains  a  somewhat  "scarce"  bird,  but  it 
occurs  rcgularlv  in  Connecticut  and  southern  ."Massachusetts,  and 
in  some  few  localities  is  often  quite  numerous.  Its  general  breeding 
area  lies  north  of  latitude  40°.  though  nests  have  been  found  among 
the  hills  of  Georgia  and  North  Carolina.  To  the  westward  it  breeds 
in  Ohio,  southern  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota,  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  London,  Ontario,  where  Saunders  reports  it  quite  com- 
mon.    It  winters  south  to  Central  Ainerica. 


Note.  —  Two  variations  from  the  type.  Rrrwster's  Warbekr 
(//.  Icucobronchialis)  and  Lawrf.nce's  Wa ruler  (//.  lawrencci) 
are  still  placed  on  the  ''  hypothetical  list  '"  by  conservative  writers. 
Both  birds  are  supposed  to  be  either  hybrids  between  H.  pimis  and 
H.  chrysoptera^  or  color  phases.  Lawrence's  Warbler  is  rather 
rare,  though  it  occurs  regularly  in  Connecticut,  but  Brewster's 
Warbler  is  not  uncommon  in  the  Connecticut  valley,  and  has  been 
traced  south  to  Virginia  and  west  to  Michigan. 


TENNESSKi;   WARBLER. 


261 


th  olive ; 
,  patch  of 
It  yellow  ; 
oat  Vilack  ; 
latch  from 

)  margin  of 
lie  grass. 

;o. 

msylvania 
ts  actively 
mines  the 
)\vn\vards  ; 
1  coniniun 
seen  it  in 
breed,  it 

ibird,  but  it 
usetts,  and 
l1  breeding 
and  anion 2; 
•d  it  breeds 
and  in  the 
[quite  com- 


Iwarbi.i-.h 
ylaivrencei) 
Ive  writers. 

is  rather 

JBrewster's 

has  been 


BACH  M  A  N  '  S    \\  A  R  B  L  E  R. 

Helminthophila   r..\CH.M.\MI. 

Char.  Male:  above,  olive;  head  dull  ashy;  tail  j;rayish  with  white 
patches  ;  hlack  band  across  crown  ;  forehead  and  luulcrparts  yellow,  with 
large  patch  of  black  on  the  breast;  yellow  band  on  wing.  Female: 
similar,  but  duller  and  grayer  ;  under  parts  paler.     Length  .(I3  inches. 

.Vcsf.     In  a  low  tree. 

Jii^XS.  4  ;  dull  white,  heavily  wreatiicd  around  larger  end  with  dark 
brown  and  spotted  with  lilac;  0.74  X  0.60. 

This  species  was  first  obtained  a  few  miles  from  Charles- 
ton, S.  C,  in  July  1833,  by  Dr.  15achman,  alter  whom  it  is 
named.  It  appears  to  be  a  lively,  active  species,  frequenting 
thick  bushes,  through  which  it  glides  after  insects,  or  occasion- 
ally, motmting  on  wing,  it  seizes  them  in  the  air.  Several 
individuals  were  seen  in  the  same  neighborhood. 

Nothing  more  was  heard  of  this  interesting  bird  than  the  little 
told  by  Audubon  and  Nuttall,  until  1883,  when  Mr.  H.  B.  Hailey 
described  the  nest  and  eggs  from  examples  collected  in  Oeorgia, 
by  Dr.  S.  W.  Wilson,  somewhere  between  1853  and  1865.  The 
male  and  female  secured  by  Dr.  Bachman  were  the  only  specimens 
taken  until  1886,  when  a  third  was  shot  by  Charles  S.  Galbraith, 
in  Louisiana,  and  announced  by  Mr.  George  N.  Lawrence  in  '-The 
Auk  "  of  January,  1887.  A  fourth,  taken  in  Florida  in  March, 
1887,  was  announced  by  Dr.  Merriam,  and  during  that  year  others 
were  reported.  Since  then  the  bird  has  been  discovered  to  be 
fairly  common  in  the  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States. 

It  is  described  as  an  active,  quarrelsome  bird,  wary  and  difificult 
to  approach.  Its  manner,  when  searching  for  food,  is  described  as 
rather  leisurely.  The  song  is  somewhat  similar  to  the  Parula.  It 
frequents  both  shrubbery  and  high  trees,  but  shows  a  preference 
for  the  latter  and  for  a  rather  thick  growth. 


TENNESSEE    WARBLER. 

HeI,M1\THOPHII,A     PKRF.r.RlXA. 

Char.  Male  :  above,  olive,  brightest  on  rump,  shading  to  ashy  on 
head;  wings  and  tail  dusky;  beneath,  white,  with  faint  tint  of  yellow; 
sides  tinged  with  grav.  Female  :  similar,  but  crown  tinged  with  olive 
and  mider  parts  with  more  yellow.  Young:  similar  to  female,  but  crown 
olive  and  under  tail-coverts  white.     Length  ^]4,  to  i,}(  inches. 

A^est.  On  a  low  bush  in  open  woodland ;  made  of  grass,  moss,  and 
vegetable  fibre,  lined  with  hair. 


^1! 


i ! 


\ 


262 


bINCiING   BIRDS. 


II! 


(I 


'M 


I-, 


/ti,':cJ.  0-0  (probably  4  or  5) ;  wliito,  wreathed  around  larger  end  with 
brown  and  purplish  spots  :  0.O5  X  0.50. 

'I'his  rare  and  plain  si)ccies  was  discovered  by  Wilson  on 
the  bulks  of  Cnmbcrland  River,  in  the  Slate  of  Tennessee.  It 
was  hunting;  with  great  agility  among  the  opening  leaves  in 
spring,  and  like  the  rest  of  the  section  to  which  it  apjiertains, 
I)ossesses  a  goc^d  deal  of  the  habits  of  the  'I'itmouse.  Its  ncjtes 
were  few  and  weak,  and  its  food,  as  usual,  smooth  caterpillars 
and  winged  insects.  It  is  still  so  rare  that  Audubon  never 
saw  more  than  three  individuals,  —  two  in  Louisiana,  ai.d  one  at 
Key  \\'est  in  ICast  Moriila,  all  of  which  were  males. 

( >niitlu)l()gi.sts  of  the  present  day  do  not  consider  this  Warbler 
quite  so  rare  as  did  Xutlall  and  liis  coiUemporaries,  though  it  is 
somewhat  local  in  its  distribution,  and  is  only  met  with  occasionally 
at  many  places  within  its  range.  In  the  Eastern  States  it  is  rather 
rare,  excepting  on  the  northern  border  of  New  York  and  New  Eng- 
land, where  it  breeds;  but  it  is  more  numerous  in  the  .Mississippi 
valley,  and  Dr.  Coues  found  it  migrating  in  abundance  along  the 
Red  River,  through  Minnesota  and  Dakota,  while  Thompson 
reports  it  as  "  a  common  summer  resident  "  in  parts  of  Manitoba. 
Dr.  Wheaton  considered  it  rare  in  Ohio,  init  Saunders  reports  it 
"  conunon  at  times"  in  the  southern  jieninsula  of  Ontario,  while 
IMcIhvraith  lias  seen  it  but  twice  near  Hamilton.  It  is  rare  in  the 
Ottawa  valley  and  near  the  city  of  Quel)ec,  while  conunon  near 
Montreal.  Comeau  says  it  l)reeds  in  numbers  near  Point  de 
Monts,  on  the  nortli  shore  of  the  (adf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  Macoun 
reports  it  common  around  Lake  Misstissini.  It  is  not  uncommon  in 
some  few  localities  in  New  Brunswick,  where  it  remains  all  sum- 
mer.    Very  few  nests  have  been  discovered. 

The  bird  is  very  wary  and  always  on  the  alert,  —  darting  rapidly 
from  branch  to  brancli.  The  song  is  a  sweet-toned,  cheery  whistle, 
—  somewhat  siiuilar  to  that  of  the  Nashville,  "but  so  decidedly 
different,"  writes  ;\Ir.  Bradford  Torrey,  ■'  as  never  for  a  moment  to 
be  confounded  with  it."  He  adds  :  ••  The  resemblance  lies  entirely 
in  the  tirst  part;  the  notes  of  the  concluding  portion  are  not  run 
together  or  jumbled,  after  the  Nashville's  manner,  but  are  quite  as 
distinct  as  are  those  of  the  opening  measure." 


'i 


.  1 

yj 

NASIIVILLL   WAkULLR. 


263 


\(\  with 

1)11  oil 
■V.  ll 
tvcs  in 
;rtains, 

S   IKJtCS 

rpillurs 
I  never 
i  one  at 


i^h  it  is 
isioniilly 
is  rather 
L'W  I-lng- 
ssissippi 
lon.ii  the 
,ionii)son 
[anitoba. 
cports  it 
o.  wliile 
•('  in  the 
-ion  near 
oint    de 
Macoiin 
nimon  in 
all  suni- 

;  rapidly 
whistle, 
"[ecidedly 

)nient  to 
entirely 
not  run 
quite  as 


NASHV  I  1,1.1:    W  ART.  LKR. 

1  Il.l.MlN  1  IK  )1'11II-V    Kll  KAI'ILLA. 

Char.  Above,  oiivo,  brighter  on  rump;  lioarl  a>hy  gray,  with  con- 
cealed patch  ui  reddish  bnnvn  ;  yellow  ring  around  the  cyc>  ;  beneath, 
briglit  yellow,  paler  on  the  belly  ;  sides  shaded  with  olive.  Length  41^  to 
5  inches. 

.\ts/.  Amid  a  tuft  of  weeds  in  pasture  or  open  woocUaiid  ;  composed 
of  leaves  and  vegetable  fibre,  lined  with  grass,  pine-nccdics,  or  hair. 

^'■XA'-' ■  3~5  (usually  4) ;  white  or  creamy,  marked  with  fuie  spots  of 
reddish  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.60  X  0.50. 

'I'liis  rare  species  was  discovered  by  Wilson  in  the  vicinity  of 
Nashville  in  Tennessee  ;  it  also  exists  in  the  neighboring  States 
in  siuiinier,  and  occasionally  proceeds  as  far  north  as  Philadel- 
phia, and  even  the  neigiibtirhood  ui  Salem  in  this  State  [Mas- 
sachusetts]. Its  discoverer  was  first  attracted  to  it  by  the 
singular  noise  which  it  made,  resembling  the  breaking  of  small 
dry  twigs,  or  the  striking  together  of  ])ebbles,  for  six  or  seven 
times  in  succession,  and  loud  enough  to  be  heard  at  the  ilis- 
tance  of  thirty  or  forty  yards.  A  similar  sound,  jiroduced,  no 
doubt,  by  the  smart  snapping  of  the  bill,  is  given  by  the  Stone- 
chat  of  Kurope,  — which  hence,  in  fact,  derives  its  name.  Au- 
dubon says,  the  male,  while  standing  in  a  still  and  erect  posture, 
utters  a  few  low,  eagerly  repeated,  creaking  notes.  This  spe- 
cies has  all  the  active  habits  of  the  family  to  which  it  more 
particularly  belongs.  Audubon  says  that  these  birds  are  not 
in  fact  rare,  as  he  saw  them  in  considerable  numbers  in  the 
month  of  April,  towards  Texas,  on  their  way  eastward  ;  he  also 
saw  them  in  Maine  and  the  Provinces  of  New  Brunswick  and 
Nova  Scotia.  A  few  proceed  to  Labrador,  and  Dr.  Richardson 
mentions  the  occurrence  of  a  straggler  in  the  fur  countries. 

However  rare  the  Nashville  may  have  been  when  Nuttall  lived 
in  Cambridge,  it  is  not  a  rare  bird  here  to-day.  It  is,  indeed,  a 
common  summer  resident  throutjhout  Xew  Fngland  and  the  Mari- 
tine  Provinces,  and  occurs  in  more  or  less  abundance  westward  to 
Manitoba.     It  winters  south  to  Mexico  and  (kiatemala. 

On  the  arrival  of  these  birds  in  the  spring  they  frequent  the  sub- 


264 


SINGING   lilKDS. 


i 


urban  j^ankns  and  orchards,  hut  soon  retire  to  a  more  secluded 
l)Ia(c  to  Ijuild  :  and  hidden  away  amid  tiic  thicker  luiNhcs  of  their 
faviirite  iiaunls,  arc  olten  overU)ukcd  by  the  collector.  —  the  or- 
nitholoj^ical  reiH)rter,  —  an<l  thus  the  species  has  acquired  a  repu- 
tation of  bein;,'  ••  uncommon." 

The  song  is  a  typi(  .d  W.irbkr-liki.'  performance,  —  a  short  trill  of 
sweet  notes,  whistled  with  little  variation  in  tone,  and  little  ellort 
at  artistic  execution;  but  I  have  not  heard  any  of  the  "harsh"' 
and  ••  creaking  "  effects  noted  by  some  writers. 


\ 


oran(;e-('R( )\v\i:n  warbler. 

IIi;i..MIVll|()PIIII,.\    CKI.ATA. 

Char.  Abdve,  olive,  lirightcst  on  the  rump;  crown  with  concealed 
patch  of  bro\vni>h  oiaiige  ;  line  over  aiul  aroimd  the  eyes,  pale  yellow; 
beneath,  pale  greenish  yellow  ;  sides  shaded  with  olive.  Length  4'-^  to 
5 '4   inches. 

AVsf.  On  the  ground  among  clumps  of  bushes;  made  of  grass,  moss, 
and  plant  stems,  lined  with  hair. 

£j,XS.  4-6;  white  or  creamy,  marked,  chiefly  around  the  larger  end, 
with  spots  of  reddish  brown  and  ])urplish  slate  ;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  species,  first  discovered,  early  in  May,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Missouri  by  my  friend  Mr.  T.  Say,  appeared  to  be  on  its 
passage  farther  north.  It  is  not  unconimon  in  winter  in  the 
orange-groves  of  ^^'est  Florida,  where  it  proceeds  to  pass  the 
season,  around  St.  Augustine ;  and  its  note  is  described  as  a 
mere  chirp  and  faint  squeak,  scarcely  louder  than  that  of  a 
mouse. 

According  to  Audubon,  these  birds  breed  in  the  eastern  part 
of  Maine  and  in  New  Drimswick  and  Nova  Scotia.  In  the 
month  of  May  we  saw  them  abundant  in  the  forests  of  the 
Oregon,  where  no  doubt  they  breed.  The  song  is  weak,  some- 
what resembling  that  of  most  of  the  Sylvicolas. 

Aua  ibon  must  have  gathered  in  all  the  New  Brunswick  Orange 
Crowns,  for  none  have  been  seen  there  since  his  visit,  nor  can  I 
learn  of  any  having  been  observed  elsewhere  in  e.^.stern  Canada, 
excepting    the    few  discovered  by   IMcIlwraith  and  Saunders   in 


KIKTLAND'S   WAKULLK. 


.^65 


southern  Ontario,  and  one  taken  by  Krncst  I).  Wintle  near  .Mon- 
treal in  1.S90. 

Accidental  strairnlers  have  been  taken  in  New  England,  but  it  Is 
thieriy  a  Western  l)ird,  breeding  in  the  far  nortli,  tliough  it  winters 
in  the  Southern  and  (Jull  States. 


KIRTLAXD'S   WARHLER. 
1)KN1>R()ICA   kikii.andi. 

Char.  Above,  slaty  brown,  head  bluish  ;  head  and  back  stre.iked 
with  black;  line  across  forehead  and  through  tlie  eyes,  black  ;  beneath, 
yellow,  brcist  and  sides  spotted  with  black;  white  blotches  on  tail. 
Length  5^2  to  6  inches. 

AVj/and  A.,yj.     Unknown. 

Only  a  few  specimens  of  this  bird,  discovered  by  Dr.  Kirtland, 
near  Cleveland,  in  1S51,  have  as  yet  been  seen,  and  these  few  were 
captured  in  South  Carolina,  \'irginia,  01ii(».  .Michigan.  Wisconsin, 
and  Missouri  during  the  spring  migrations,  Mr.  Charles  H.  Con,- 
secured  one  in  the  Bahamas  in  winter.  The  habits  of  the  bird  are 
unknown,  but  Mr.  Chubb,  who  shot  a  male  and  female  near  Cleve- 
land in  18S0,  says:  "  I  am  inclined  to  think  they  are  rather  terres- 
trial in  their  habits,  freciuenting  busliy  fields  near  woods."  .Mr. 
Chapman  suggests  the  probability  of  these  birds  breeding  "'in  the 
Hud.son  Bay  region." 


rn  part 

In   the 

of  the 

some- 


Orange 
can  I 
"anada, 
lers    in 


XoTK,  — The  CARRONATEn  Wakrler  {Dendrflica  carhonata), 
mentioned  by  Xuttall  on  the  authority  of  Audubon,  who  killed  two 
specimens  in  Kentucky,  has  been  placed  on  the  "  Hypothetical 
List  "  by  the  A.  O.  U.  Committee,  as  has  also  the  Blue  .Moi-.v  i  aix 
Warrler  {Dendroica  montuna)  and  the  Smali.-hf.adko  War- 
bler {Syk'aniii  microccphala),  mentioned  by  Wilson  and  Audu- 
bon. Xo  specimens  of  either  have  been  taken  in  recent  years. 
On  this  same  list  has  been  placed  the  Cincinnati  Waki'.ler 
{Iftlmintliophila  cincinnatiensis  ),  which  is  probably  a  hybrid  of 
H.  pi  nil  s  and  G.  forniosa. 

T(iwxsknd's  Wari{Li:r  {Dendroica  ffl7vnscndi),  described  by 
Nuttall  and  named  in  honor  of  its  discoverer,  is  a  rare  bird  of  the 
Far  West,  and  its  claim  to  mention  here  rests  on  the  accidental 
occurrence  of  one  example  near  Philadelphia  in  1868. 


JiiiHii-^: 


(i 


HOUSE   WREN. 

WOOD    \\KEN. 

Troglodytes  aedon. 

Char.  Above,  reddish  brown  (sometimes  with  dark  bars),  darker  on 
the  head;  below,  brownisli  wliite,  marked  irregularly  with  dark  lines; 
wings  and  tail  with  fine  waved  lines.     Length  ah(Hit  5  inches. 

.Vt'st.  On  the  eaves  of  houses  or  in  a  barn  or  hollow  tree,  etc.  ;  made 
of  grass,  twigs,  etc. ;  the  hole  generally  filled  with  rubbish  and  lined 
with  feathers. 

^.-.X^-  "-<';  white  tinted  with  pink,  densely  marked  with  reddish 
brown;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  lively,  tlucrful,  capricious,  and  well-known  little  min- 
strel is  only  a  sinnmer  resident  in  the  United  States.  Its 
northern  migrations  extend  to  T,abrador,  but  it  resides  and 
rears  its  voting  principally  in  tlie  Middle  States.  My  friend 
Mr.  Sav  also  observed  this  species  near  Pembino.  beyond  the 
sources  of  the  Mississippi,  in  the  Western  wilderness  of  the 
49th  degree  of  latitude.  It  is  likewise  said  to  be  an  inhabitant 
of  Surinam,  within  the  tropics,  where  its  delightful  melody  has 
gained  it  the  nickname  of  the  Nightingale.  This  region,  or 
the  intermediate  country  of  Mexico,  is  probably  the  winter 
quarters  of  our  domestic  fivorite.  In  Louisiana  it  is  unknown 
even  as  a  transient  visitor,  migrating  apparently  to  the  east  of 


l| 


arker  on 
rk   lines ; 


c. 


made 
id   lined 

reddish 


min- 

s.      Its 

e>   and 

friend 

nd  the 

of  the 

abitant 

ody  has 

ion,  or 

winter 

known 

east  of 


HOUSE   WREN. 


267 


the  Mississippi,  and  sedulously  avoiding  the  region  generally 
inhabited  by  the  Carolina  Wren.  ll.  is  a  matter  of  surprise 
how  this,  and  some  other  species,  with  wings  so  short  and  a 
flight  so  tluttering,  are  ever  capable  of  arriving  and  returning 
from  such  distant  countries.  At  any  rate,  come  from  where 
it  may,  it  makes  its  aj)])earance  in  the  Middle  States  about  the 
i2ih  or  15th  of  April,  and  is  seen  in  New  England  in  the  latter 
entl  of  that  month  or  by  the  beginning  of  May.  It  takes  iis 
departure  for  the  South  towards  the  close  of  September  or 
early  in  October,  and  is  not  known  to  winter  within  the  limits 
of  the  Union. 

Some  time  in  the  early  part  of  May  our  little  social  visitor 
enters  acti\  ely  into  the  cares  as  well  as  pleasures  which  preside 
instinctively  over  the  fiat  of  propagation.  His  nest,  from  pref- 
erence, near  the  house,  is  placed  beneath  the  eaves,  in  some 
remote  corner  under  a  shed,  out-house,  barn,  or  in  a  hollow 
orchard  tree  ;  also  in  the  deserted  cell  of  the  Woodpecker,  and 
when  provided  with  the  convenience,  in  a  wooden  box  along 
with  the  Marlins  and  Lluebirds.  He  will  make  his  nest  even 
in  an  old  hat,  nailed  x\p,  and  perforated  with  a  hole  for  en- 
trance, or  the  skull  of  an  ox  stuck  u])on  a  pole  ;  and  Auduijon 
saw  one  deposited  in  the  pocket  of  a  broken-down  carriage. 
So  pertinacious  is  the  House  Wren  in  thus  claiming  the  con- 
venience and  protection  of  human  society  that,  according  to 
\\'ilson,  an  instance  once  occurred  where  a  nest  was  made  in 
the  sleeve  of  a  mower's  coat,  which,  in  the  month  of  June,  was 
hung  up  accidentally  for  t\V(j  or  three  elays  in  a  shed  near  a 
barn. 

The  nest  of  this  s])ecies,  though  less  curious  than  that 
of  some  other  kinds,  is  still  constructed  with  considerable 
appearance  of  contrivance.  The  external  a])proach  is  bar- 
ricaded with  a  strong  outwork  of  sticks,  interlaced  with 
much  labor  and  ingenuity.  When  the  nest,  therefore,  is 
placed  beneath  the  eaves,  or  in  some  other  situation  contig- 
uous to  the  roof  of  the  building,  the  access  to  the  inner  fabric 
is  so  nearly  closed  by  this  formidable  mass  of  twigs  that  a 
mere  portion  of  the  edge  is  algne  left  open  for  the  female, 


:^^   1-1 


!i 


r 


268 


SINGING    BIRDS. 


w 


iiii 


i  ! 


1       ill' 

•(.■: 

k 

I               IHI 

:              Mi 

j 

0 

1 

! 

1  ^-  ■!  i 

i 

i 

:      ;    '1 
. ,    '( 

■.I 

i 

i 

■i 

1 

1 

just  sufificient  for  her  to  creep  in  and  out.  Within  this  judi- 
cious fort  is  i)laced  the  proper  nest,  of  the  usual  hemispherical 
figure,  formed  of  layers  of  dried  stalks  of  grass,  and  lined  with 
fealliers.  The  eggs,  from  6  to  9,  are  of  a  reddish  flesh-color, 
si)rinkled  all  over  with  innumerable  fine  grains  of  a  somewhat 
deeper  tint.  They  generally  rear  two  broods  in  the  season  : 
the  first  take  to  flight  about  the  beginning  of  June,  and  the 
second  in  July  or  August.  The  young  are  early  capable  of 
providing  for  their  own  subsistence  and  twittering  forth  their 
petulant  cry  of  alarm.  It  is  both  pleasant  and  amusing  to 
observe  the  sociability  and  activity  of  these  recent  nurslings, 
who  seem  to  move  in  a  body,  throwing  themselves  into  antic 
attitudes,  often  crowding  together  into  the  old  nests  of  other 
birds,  and  for  some  time  roosting  near  their  former  cradle, 
under  the  affectionate  eye  of  their  busy  parents,  who  have 
perhaps  already  begun  to  prepare  the  same  nest  for  a  new 
progeny.  Indeed,  so  prospective  and  busy  is  the  male  that 
he  frequently  amuses  himself  with  erecting  another  mansion 
even  while  his  mate  is  still  sitting  on  her  eggs ;  and  this  curi- 
ous habit  of  superfluous  labor  seems  to  be  more  or  less  common 
to  the  whole  genus. 

One  of  these  Wrens,  according  to  Wilson,  happened  to  lose 
his  mate  by  the  sly  and  ravenous  approaches  of  a  cat,  —  an  ani- 
mal which  they  justly  hold  in  abhorrence.  The  day  after  this 
important  loss,  our  Httle  widower  had  succeeded  in  introducing 
to  his  desolate  mansion  a  second  partner,  whose  welcome 
ai^peared  by  the  ecstatic  song  which  the  bridegroom  now 
uttered ;  after  this  they  remained  together,  and  reared  their 
brood.  In  the  summer  of  1830  I  fountl  a  female  W^ren  who 
had  e\i)ired  on  the  nest  in  the  abortive  act  of  laying  her  first 
egg.  I  therefore  took  away  the  nest  from  under  the  edge  of  the 
shed  in  which  it  was  built.  The  male,  however,  continued 
round  the  place  as  before,  and  still  cheerfully  uttered  his 
accustomed  song.  Unwilling  to  leave  the  premises,  he  now 
went  to  work  and  made,  unaided,  another  dwelling,  and  after 
a  time  brought  a  new  mate  to  take  possession ;  but  less  foith- 
ful  than  \\'ilson's  bird,  or  suspecting  some  lurking  danger,  she 


to  lose 

in  ani- 

er  this 

ucing 

come 

now 

their 

n  who 

r  first 

of  the 

inued 

1    his 

now 

after 

liith- 

,  she 


I    II 

ii 


HOUSE   WREN. 


269 


forsook  the  nest  after  entering,  and  never  laid  in  it,  Uut  still 
the  happy  warbler  continued  his  uninterrupted  la\-,  apparently 
in  solitude. 

The  song  of  our  familiar  Wren  is  loud,  sprigluly,  and  tremu- 
lous, uttered  with  peculiar  animation,  and  rapidly  repeated  ;  at 
first  the  voice  seems  ventriloquial  and  distant,  and  then  bursts 
forth  by  efforts  into  a  mellow  and  echoing  warble.  'J  he  trill- 
ing, hurried  notes  seem  to  reverberate  from  the  leaf\"  branches 
in  which  the  musician  sits  obscured,  or  are  heard  from  the  low 
roof  of  the  vine-mantled  cottage  like  the  shrill  and  unwearied 
pipe  of  some  sylvan  elf.  The  strain  is  continued  even  during 
the  sultry  noon  of  the  summer's  day,  when  most  of  the  feath- 
ered songsters  seek  repose  and  shelter  from  the  heat.  His 
lively  and  querulous  ditty  is,  however,  still  accompanied  by 
the  slower-measured,  pathetic  chant  of  the  Red-eyed  I'ly- 
catcher,  the  meandering,  tender  warble  of  the  Musical  Vireo, 
or  the  occasional  loud  mimicry  of  the  Catbird ;  the  whole 
forming  an  aerial,  almost  celestial  concert,  which  ne\er  tires 
the  ear.  Tliough  the  general  performance  of  our  Wren  brars 
no  inconsiderable  resemblance  to  that  of  the  luiropean  species, 
yet  his  voice  Is  louder,  and  his  execution  much  more  varied  and 
delightfiil.  He  is  rather  a  bold  and  insolent  intruder  upon  those 
birds  who  reside  near  him  or  claim  the  same  accommodation. 
He  frequently  causes  the  mild  Bluebird  or  the  Martin  to  relin- 
quish their  hereditary  claims  to  the  garden  box,  and  lias  been 
accused  also  of  sucking  their  eggs.  \or  is  he  any  better  con- 
tented with  neighbors  of  his  own  fraternity  who  settle  near  him, 
keeping  up  frequent  squabbles,  like  other  little  busybodies, 
who  are  never  happy  but  in  mischief;  so  that  iq^on  the  whole, 
though  we  may  justly  admire  the  fine  talents  of  this  petulant 
domestic,  he  is,  like  many  other  actors,,  merely  a  good  per- 
former. He  is  still  upon  the  whole  a  real  friend  to  the  farmer 
and  horticulturist,  by  the  number  of  injurious  insects  and  their 
destructive  lar\-ne  on  which  both  he  and  his  numerous  family 
subsist.  Bold  and  fearless,  seeking  out  every  advantageous 
association,  and  making  up  in  activity  wliat  he  may  lack  in 
strength,  he  does  not  confine  his  visits  to  the  cottage  or  the 


n 


iiil 


* 


270 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


II. 

¥ 


country,  but  may  often  be  heard  on  the  tops  of  houses  even  in 
the  mi<lst  of  the  city,  warbling  with  his  usual  energy. 

The  House  Wren  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  Massachu- 
setts, hut  is  rarely  seen  north  of  this  State, 

The  only  instance  of  its  occurrence  in  New  Brunswick  is  that  of 
a  pair  seen  at  Cirand  Falls  by  Mr.  C.  F.  Batchelder.  It  is  fairly 
common  near  Montreal  and  throui^di  southern  Ontario,  and  is 
abundant  in  Manitoba.  It  winters  in  the  Middle  States  and 
southward. 

NoTi:.  —  A  Western  form  —  distinguished  from  true  acdon  by  the 
prevalence  of  gray  on  its  upper  parts  and  its  more  distinct  bars  on 
the  back  —  occurs  from  Illinois  and  Manitoba  westward.  This  is 
Western  House  Wki:n  {T.  a.  astccus). 

The  Wood  Wki:.\  (7".  anicriianiis),  mentioned  by  Nuttall  on  the 
authority  of  Audubon,  should  have  been  referred  to  T.  acdon. 


\VINTP:R    WRICN. 

Troc;i,()I)V'jks  hikm.ai.is. 

Ch.\r.  Above,  recldi.^h  brown,  biighle.st  on  the  rump,  marked  with 
dark  waved  lines;  wings  and  tail  with  dark  bars;  under  i)arls  paler 
brown,  belly  and  under  tail-coverts  with  numerous  dark  bars.  Length 
about  4  inches. 

Nest.  At  the  font  of  a  moss-covered  stuinn,  or  under  a  fallen  tree,  or 
amid  a  pile  of  brush;  coniposcil  of  twigs  and  moss,  lined  with  leathers. 

Eggs.  4-6  ;  white,  sp'-itud,  chiefly  near  the  larger  end,  with  reddish 
brown  and  purple  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

This  little  winter  visitor,  which  approaches  the  Middle  States 
in  the  month  of  October,  seems  scarcely  in  any  way  distin- 
guishable from  the  Common  Wren  of  Europe.  It  sometimes 
passes  the  winter  in  Pennsylvania,  and  according  to  .Audubon 
even  breeds  in  the  (heat  Pine  Swamp  in  that  State,  as  well  as 
in  New  York.  Karly  in  the  spring  it  is  seen  on  its  returning 
route  to  the  Northwest.  Air.  Say  observed  it  in  stmimcr  near 
the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  it  was  also  seen,  at  the 
same  scnson,  on  the  White  Mountains  of  New  Hampshire  by 
the  scientific   exploring   party  of  Dr.  P)igelow,  Messrs.  I>oott 


il 


WINTI'.K    WREN. 


271 


tree,  or 
lithcrs. 
reddish 


States 

(listin- 

[letimes 

Idubon 

Iwell  as 

lurning 

T  near 

lat  the 

|iire  by 

15oott 


and  (iray,  so  tliat  it  must  retire  to  the  Western  or  mountainous 
solitudes  to  pass  the  period  of  incubation.  Mr.  Townsend 
obtained  si)ecimens  of  this  bird  in  the  forests  of  the  Cohun- 
bia.  Durinj^^  its  residence  in  the  Middle  Slates  it  fre(iuents 
the  broken  banks  of  rivulets,  old  roots,  and  decayed  loL^s  near 
watery  places  in  ([uest  of  its  insect  food.  As  in  lauope.  il  also 
approaches  the  farm-house,  examines  the  \voud-i)ilc,  erecting 
its  tail,  and  creeping  into  the  interstices  like  a  mouse.  It 
frequently  mounts  on  some  projecting  object  and  sings  with 
great  animation.  In  the  gardens  and  outhouses  of  the  city  it 
a])])ears  ecpially  familiar  as  the  moie  common  Hour^e  Wren. 

'I'he  Wren  has  a  pleasing  warble,  ami  much  louder  lh:ui 
might  be  expected  from  its  diminutive  size,  lis  song  likewise 
continues  more  or  less  throughout  the  vear,  —  e\en  during  the 
prevalenc  '  of  snowstorm  it  has  been  heard  as  cheerful  as 
ever ;  it  li'  e  ise  continues  its  note  till  very  late  in  the  evening, 
though  not  after  dark. 

This  species  is  common  throughout  the  ]:Iastern  States,  breeding 
in  northern  New  England  and  north  to  the  (iull Of  St.  Lawrence, 
and  westward  througli  northern  Ohio  and  Ontario  to  .Manit()l)a. 
During  the  summer  it  occurs  :dso,  sparingly,  on  the  lierkshirc  Hills 
in  .Massachusetts,  and  along  tlie  crests  of  the  Alleghanies  to  .\orih 
Carolina.     It  winters  from  about  40°  southward. 

Had  Xuttall  ever  met  with  the  Winter  W'ren  in  its  summer 
haunts  ;  had  he  heard  its  wild  melody  break  the  stillness  of  the 
bird's  forest  home,  or  known  of  the  power  controlled  by  that  tiny 
throstle  and  of  its  capacity  for  briilianl  execution  :  had  he  but  once 
listened  to  its  sweet  and  impassioned  tones,  and  the  sugi,a'stive 
joyousness  of  its  rapid  trills;  had  Nuttall,  in  short,  ever  heard 
the  bird  sing,  —  he  could  not,  surely,  have  damned  it  with  such 
faint  praise. 

The  song  of  this  Wren  is  not  well  known,  for  the  bird  seldom 
sings  beyond  the  nesting  period,  and  tlien  is  rarely  heard  away 
from  the  woodland  groves.  Ihit  once  heard,  the  song  is  not;  soon 
forgotten  :  it  is  so  wild  and  sweet  a  lay.  and  is  flung  upon  the 
woodland  quiet  with  such  energy,  such  hilarious  abandon,  that  it 
commands  attention.  Its  merits  entitle  it  to  rank  among  the  best 
of  our  sylvan  melodies. 


r  1 


i  I 


Mi; 


"i' 


f:'.' 


If'    ^ 


P] 


CAROLINA    WKEN. 

MOCKING    WREN. 
TlIRVOlHORUS    LUDOVICIANUS. 

Char.  Above,  reddish  brown,  with  fine  black  bars  ;  below,  tawny  buff  ; 
long  line  over  the  eye  white  or  buff  ;  wings  and  tail  with  dark  bars 
Lengtli  5/2  to  6  inches. 

A'c's/.  In  any  available  hole,  often  ni  hollow  tree,  sometimes  in  brush 
heap,  usually  in  the  woods  ;  composed  of  grass,  leaves,  etc.,  sometimes 
fastened  with  corn-silk,  lined  with  feathers,  grass,  or  horse-hair. 

^-Xlif^-  3~6 ;  white,  with  pink  (jr  buff  tint,  thickly  speckled  around 
larger  end  with  reddish  brown  ;  0.75  X  0.60. 

This  remarkable  mimicking  and  Musical  Wren  is  a  constant 
resident  in  the  Southern  States  from  Virginia  to  Florida,  but 
is  rarely  seen  at  any  season  north  of  the  line  of  Maryland  or 
Delaware,  though,  attracted  by  the  great  river-courses,  it  is 
abundant  from  Pittsburg  to  New  Orleans.  A  few  individuals 
stray,  in  the  course  of  the  spring,  as  far  as  the  line  of  New 
York,  and  appear  in  New  Jersey  and  the  vicinity  of  Philadel- 
phia early  in  the  month  of  Aray.  On  the  lyth  of  April,  re- 
turning from  a  Southern  tour  of  great  extent,  I  again  recognized 
my  old  and  pleasing  acquaintance,  by  his  usual  note,  near 
Chester,  on  the  Delaware,  where,  I  have  little  doubt,  a  few 
remain    and   pass   the    summer,   retiring   to    the    South    only 


!■,'). 

^  1 

CAROLINA  WREN. 


273 


:a\vny  buff ; 
dark  bars 

es  in  bru>h 
sometimes 

led  around 


constant 

)rida,  but 

jiryland  or 

[■ses,   it  is 

idividuals 

of  New 

Philadel- 
I  April,  re- 

^cognized 
|ote,   near 

)t,   a   few 

juth    only 


as  the  weather  becomes  inclement.  On  the  banks  of  the 
Patapsco,  near  Baltimore,  their  song  is  still  heard  to  the  close 
of  November. 

Our  bird  has  all  the  petulance,  courage,  industry,  and  famili- 
arity of  his  particular  tribe.  He  delights  to  survey  the  mean- 
ders of  peaceful  streams,  and  dwell  amidst  the  shady  trees 
which  adorn  their  banks.  His  choice  seems  to  convey  a  taste 
for  the  pictures<]ue  and  beautiful  in  Nature,  himself,  in  the 
foreground,  forming  one  of  the  most  pleasing  attractions  of 
the  scene.  Approaching  the  waterfall,  he  associates  with  its 
murmurs  the  presence  of  the  Kingfisher,  and  modulating  the 
hoarse  rattle  of  his  original  into  a  low,  varied,  desi)onding  note, 
he  sits  on  some  depending  bough  by  the  stream,  and  calls,  at 
intervals,  in  a  slow  voice,  tcc-yiirrJi  kc-yiirrh,  or  thr'r' r'r^r/i. 
In  the  tall  trees  by  the  silent  stream,  he  recollects  the  lively, 
common  note  of  the  Tufted  Titmouse,  and  repeats  the  peto  pcto 
pcto  pcct,  or  his  peevish  katttiuUJ,  katHcdiii,  katciiiJ.  While 
gleaning  low,  amidst  fallen  leaves  and  brushwood,  for  hiding 
and  dormant  insects  and  worms,  he  perhaps  brings  up  the  note 
of  his  industrious  neighbor,  the  Ground  Robin,  and  sets  to  his 
own  sweet  and  li(iuids  tones  the  simple  hnocct  towcct  to-wcct. 
The  tremulous  trill  of  the  Pine  Warbler  is  then  recollected, 
and  tr' r' r' r' r' r' ih  is  whistled.  In  the  next  breath  comes  his 
imitation  of  the  large  Woodpecker,  woity  7<'oih'  7^oify  and 
7votchy  wotchy  wotcJiy,  or  tshovcc  tshovce  fshof,  and  tshooddee 
tshoodiiee  tshooadcet,  then  varied  to  tshiivai  tsJiiivai  tshuvat,  and 
toovaiiah  toovaiiah  toovai'iatoo.  Next  comes  perhaps  his  more 
musical  and  pleasing  version  of  the  Blackbird's  short  song, 
uottitshee  ivottitshec  7i.'offitshee.  To  the  same  smart  tune  is 
now  set  a  chosen  part  of  the  drawling  song  of  the  Meadow 
Lark,  pirceJo  prccedo  pircri-f.  then  waried,  rccedo  recede  receet 
and  tecedo  tecedo  tccect ;  or  changing  to  a  bass  key,  he  tunes 
sooteet  sooicet  soot.  Once,  I  heard  this  indefatigable  mimic 
attempt  delightfullv  the  warble  of  the  Bluebird  in  the  month  of 
February.  The  bold  whistle  of  the  Cardinal  Bird  is  another 
of  the  sounds  he  delights  to  imitate  and  repeat  in  his  own 
quaint  manner ;  such  as  vit-yii  vit-yii  vit-yii,  and  vishnu  lishnu 

VOL.     I.   iS 


274 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


»<■■  ?^ 


i ; 


t » ■ 


il 


ijii 


fi 


Mil 


.' 

'  i 

:f. 

i 

I    ii,;. 

4 1. 

1 

^L 

t:r 

7'is/uN/,  then  his  woitcc  looihr  woitee  and  wiltce  wiltee  wiltee. 
Soon  alter  I  first  heard  the  note  of  the  White-eyed  Vireo  in 
March,  the  CaroUna  Wren  immediately  mimicked  the  note  of 
tciah  7>.<cwd  wittec  loeeioa.  Some  of  these  notes  would  ap])ear 
t(j  Ije  recollections  of  the  past  season,  as  imitations  of  the 
Maryland  Xellow-'l'hroat  (joittisee  wiitisce  wittiscc  loif,  and 
shcwaiJit  shcuHiiilit  shcivaiiiit),  not  yet  heard  or  arrived  within 
the  boundary  of  the  United  States.  So  also  his  /sherry  tslurry 
tilwrry  tshiip  is  one  of  the  notes  of  the  Baltimore  Bird,  yet  in 
South  America. 

While  at  'I'uscaloosa,  about  the  20th  of  February,  one  of 
these  Wrens,  on  the  borders  of  a  garden,  sat  and  repeated  for 
some  time  /s/ie-iohiskct'  7i<hiskcc  w/iiskee,  then  soohiit  soolait 
soohiit ;  another  of  his  phrases  is  tshiikadcc  tshiikdikc  tsliukd- 
dcctslioo  and  cJij'ihway  chj^ihuay  chjlbway,  uttered  quick ;  the 
first  of  these  exj)ressions  is  in  imitation  of  one  of  the  notes  of 
the  Scarlet  Tanager.  Amidst  these  imitations  and  variations, 
which  seem  almost  endless,  and  lead  the  stranger  to  imagine 
himself,  even  in  the  depth  of  winter,  surrounded  by  all  the 
quaint  choristers  of  the  summer,  there  is  still,  with  our  capri- 
cious and  tuneful  mimic,  a  favorite  theme  more  constantly 
and  regularly  repeated  than  the  rest.  This  was  also  the  first 
sound  that  I  heard  from  him,  delivered  with  great  spirit,  though 
in  the  dreary  month  of  January.  This  sweet  and  melodious 
ditty,  tscc-toot  tscc-toot  tscc-toot,  and  sometimes  tsce-toot  tscc- 
toot  sect,  was  usually  uttered  in  a  somewhat  plaintive  or  tender 
strain,  varied  at  each  repetition  with  the  most  delightful  and 
delicate  tones,  of  which  no  conception  can  be  formed  without 
experience.  That  this  song  has  a  sentimental  air  may  be  con- 
ceived from  its  interpretation  by  the  youths  of  the  country, 
who  pretend  to  hear  it  say  sivcet-hcart  S7vcct-hcart  sivcet !  Nor 
is  the  illusion  more  than  the  natural  truth  ;  for,  usually,  this 
affectionate  ditty  is  answered  by  its  mate,  sometimes  in  the 
same  note,  at  others,  in  a  different  call.  In  most  cases  it  will 
be  remarked  that  the  phrases  of  our  songster  are  uttered  in 
3's  ;  by  this  means  it  will  generally  be  practicable  to  distinguish 
its  performance  from  that  of  other  birds,  and  particularly  from 


CAROLINA    WREN. 


275 


wiltee. 
'ireo  in 
note  of 
appear 
of  the 
'//,   and 
I  within 
'  ishiiry 
1,  yet  in 

,  one  of 
?ated  for 
:V  soolait 
'  tshukd- 
ick;  the 
notes  of 
ariations, 
)  imagine 
^y  all  the 
lur  capri- 
onstantly 
)  the  first 
t,  though 
nelodious 
toot  /s(r- 
or  tender 
(it fill  and 
^1  without 
J  be  con- 
country, 
r^//  Nor 
,aUy,  this 
:s  in  the 
;es  it  will 
[ttered  in 
jstinguish 
rlv  from 


the  Cardinal  Cirosbeak,  whose  expressions  it  often  closely  imi- 
tates both  in  power  and  delivery.  I  shall  never,  I  believe, 
forget  the  soothing  satisfaction  and  amusement  J  deriN'ed  from 
this  little  constant  and  unwearied  minstrel,  my  sole  vocal  com- 
panion through  many  weary  miles  of  a  vast,  desolate,  and 
otherwise  cheerless  wilderness.  Vet  with  all  his  readiness  to 
amuse  by  his  Protean  song,  the  epitome  of  all  he  had  ever 
heard  or  recollecteil,  he  was  still  studious  of  concealment, 
keeping  busily  engaged  near  the  groimd,  or  in  low  thickets,  in 
cpiest  of  his  food  ;  and  when  he  mounted  a  log  or  brush  pile, 
which  he  had  just  examined,  his  color,  so  similar  to  the  fiUen 
leaves  and  wintry  livery  of  Nature,  often  prevented  me  from 
gaining  a  glimpse  of  this  wonderful  and  interesting  mimic. 

Like  the  preceding  species,  he  has  restless  activity  and  a 
love  for  prying  into  the  darkest  corners  after  his  prey,  and  is 
])articularly  attached  to  the  vicinity  of  rivers  and  wet  places, 
when  not  surrounded  by  gloomy  shade.  His  quick  and  (ai)ri- 
cious  motions,  antic  jerks,  and  elevated  tail  resemble  tne  actions 
of  the  House  Wren.  Imager  and  lively  in  his  contracted  llighl, 
before  shifting  he  quickly  throws  himself  forward,  so  as  ne;irly 
to  touch  his  perch  previous  to  springing  from  his  legs.  In 
Tuscaloosa  and  other  towns  in  Alabama  he  appeared  frctpiently 
upon  the  tops  of  the  barns  and  out-houses,  delivering  with 
energy  his  varied  and  desultory  lay.  At  I'allahassec,  in  West 
Florida,  I  observed  one  of  these  birds  chanting  near  the  door 
of  a  cottage,  and  occasionally  imitating,  in  his  way,  the  squall- 
ing of  the  crying  child  within,  so  that,  like  the  Mocking  llinl, 
all  sounds,  if  novel,  contribute  to  his  amusement. 

This  species  is  common  in  the  Southern  States  and  north  to  40^, 
hein.fj  extremely  abundant  in  southern  Illinois,  and  it  occasionally 
wanders  to  northern  Ohio  and  to  New  York,  Connecticut,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  southern  New  Hami)sliire.  Mr.  Saunders  reports 
that  one  was  taken  near  London,  Ontario,  in  February,  1891. 


jg^oxE.  —  The  Florida  Wren  {T.Iudovicianus  //lianiensis)  \'?, 
a  lar"-er,  darker  form,  which  is  restricted  to  southeastern  Florida. 


I 


!  ! 


nt 


76 


siNciiNc]  i;ikijs. 


If 


'.I 


Mh.. 


•ii  I 


lu: 


s 


!<',     1 


Hi 


1^ 


1^ 


BKwicK's  wri:n. 

LON(i-l  All.r.lJ    11UL>K    WREN. 

'I'llKMH  lloKLS    lilAVlCKIl. 

Char.  Above,  chcslimt  hiown;  tail  with  durk  l)ar.s;  wings  wot 
l»arrecl ;  huff  stripe  over  eye;  below,  dull  white;  Ikuiks  brown.  Length 
5  to  5J^2  inches. 

A'fsf.  Almost  anywhere.  In  settled  districts  it  is  usually  built  in  a 
crevice  of  a  house  or  barn;  but  in  the  woods  a  holluw  tree  or  stump  is 
selected,  or  a  clumi)  of  bushes.  Composed  of  a  mass  of  leaves,  grass,  etc., 
roughly  put  together. 

/A.,,f.  ,_7;  white  or  with  jjink  tint,  thickly  marked  with  tine  si)0ts  of 
reddish  brown  and  purple;  0.65  X  0.50. 

i'or  the  (lisc;ovcry  of  this  beautiful  species  of  ^\'ren,  appar- 
ently allied  to  the  preceding,  with  which  it  seems  nearly  to 
agree  in  size,  we  are  indel)ted  to  the  indefatigable  Audubon,  in 
whose  splendid  work  it  is  for  the  first  time  figured.  It  was 
observed  by  its  discoverer,  towards  the  approach  of  winter,  in 
the  lower  i)art  of  Louisiana.  Its  manners  are  very  similar  to 
those  of  other  species,  but  instead  of  a  song,  at  this  season  it 
only  uttered  a  low  twitter. 

Dr.  l>achman  foinid  this  species  to  be  the  most  prevalent  of 
any  other  in  the  mountains  of  \'irginia.  particidarly  about  the 
Salt  Suli)hur  Springs,  where  they  breed  and  i)ass  the  season. 
The  notes  bear  some  resemblance  to  those  of  the  Winter  Wren, 
being  scarcely  louder  or  more  connected.  From  their  habit  ol 
pryipg  into  holes  and  hollow  logs  they  are  suj^posed  to  breed  in 
such  situations.  Mr.  Trudeau  believes  that  the}-  breed  in  Loui- 
siana. In  the  marshy  meadows  of  the  Wahlamet  Mr.  Townsend 
and  myself  fre([uently  saw  this  species,  accompanied  by  the 
young,  as  early  as  the  month  of  May.  At  this  time  they  have 
much  the  habit  and  manners  of  the  Marsh  Wren,  and  probaljly 
nest  in  the  tussocks  of  rank  grass  in  which  we  so  frequently 
saw  them  gleaning  their  prey.  They  were  now  shy,  and  rarely 
seen  in  the  vicinity  of  our  camp. 

Bewick's  Wren  is  abundant  along  the  Mississippi  valley,  but  is 
rarely  seen  east  of  the  Alleghanies  or  north  of  latitude  40°. 


'-\ 


SIIOKT-DILLLl)   MAKSII    \VKi:\. 


2/7 


k  but  is 


SHORr-i;ii.i.i:i)  maksh  wrkn. 

Cismi  iiokus   sii.i.i.AKis. 

CilAR.  AIjovc,  brovn,  \ety  dark  on  crown  and  l)ack,  and  streaked 
evcrywliere  with  bultv  ;  winj;s  and  tail  with  dark  l)ai>  IjcIow.  hutly 
white,  paler  on  throat  and  belly;  Imast  .md  sides  shaded  with  biown 
I-cngth  4  to  -I '2   inches. 

^\V,v/.  On  the  ground,  amid  a  tuft  of  iii^h  grass,  in  fresh-water  marsh  or 
swampy  meadow  ;  composed  of  grass,  lined  with  vegetable  down.  L. du- 
ally the  tops  of  surrounding  grass  are  wcaved  above  the  nest,  leaving  an 
entrance  at  the  side. 

Zi^;:,^.     0-b;  white;  0.O5  X  0.50. 

Tiiis  amusing  and  not  unnuisical  little  species  inhabits  the 
lowest  marshy  meadows,  but  does  not  freciuent  the  reed-tlats. 
It  never  visits  cultivated  grounds,  and  is  at  all  times  shy,  timiil, 
and  suspicious.  It  arrives  in  this  jiart  of  Massachusetts  about 
the  close  of  the  firrit  week  in  May.  and  retires  to  the  Soiiih  by 
the  miildle  of  Se]nember  at  farthest,  probably  b\-  ni^ht,  as  it  is 
never  seen  in  ])rogress,  so  that  its  northern  residence  is  only 
l^olonged  about  four  months.  In  winter  this  bird  is  seen  from 
South  Carolina  to  Texas. 

His  presence  is  announced  by  his  lively  and  quaint  song  of 
Vj7/  ^tsJiip,  li  (/av  (An  (Ah'  (An,  delivered  in  haste  and  earnest 
at  short  intervals,  either  when  he  is  momited  on  a  tuft  of 
sedge,  or  while  perching  on  some  low  bush  mar  the  skirt  of 
the  marsh.  The  '/s/i  '/,*///>  is  uttered  with  a  strong  aspiration, 
and  the  remainder  with  a  guttural  echo.  A\'hile  thus  engaged, 
his  head  and  t-  il  are  alternately  de])resscd  and  elevated,  as  if 
the  little  odd  jx'rformer  were  fixed  on  a  pivot.  Sometimes  the 
note  varies  to  V.v////  'A////  'A7//(i',  (//i'  (///'  (///'  <///',  the  latter 
part  being  a  pleasant  trill.  When  approached  too  closely,  — 
which  not  often  ha]ipened,  as  he  never  permitted  me  to  come 
within  two  or  diree  feet  of  his  station,  —  his  song  became 
harsh  and  more  hurried,  like  'A////  (/d  (At  dd,  and  (A'  r/c  (A'  (A' 
iV  (P  (Ah,  or  tsJic  (A-  r/c  (A-  dc,  rising  into  an  angry,  petulant  cry, 
sometimes  also  a  low,  hoarse,  and  scolding  (Am^li  (Aa'n^h  ;  then 
again  on  invading  the  nest  the  sound  sank  to  a  plaintive  Usk 


H 


% 


i  . 


-i  ■ 

'    ■■         Jf' 

■       ;.    U 

i 

.1 

m 


278 


si.\(ii.\(;  lUKDs. 


/s/ti/>,  '/i/i  tship.  In  the  early  part  of  the  breednig  season  the 
male  is  very  lively  and  musical,  and  in  his  best  hunmr  he  tunes 
up  a  'A////  'tship  tship  a  i/,i\  with  a  pleasantly  warbled  and 
reiterated  </<•.  At  a  later  period  another  male  uttered  little  else 
than  a  hoarse  antl  guttural  (/(fii;h,  h.irdly  louder  than  the  croak- 
ing of  a  frog.  When  approached,  these  birds  repeatedly  descend 
into  the  grass,  where  they  spend  much  of  their  time  in  (juest  of 
insects,  tdiielly  crustaceous,  which  with  moths.  ( onstilute  their 
l)rincipal  food  ;  here,  unseen,  tiiey  still  sedulously  utter  their 
quaint  warbUng,  and  tship  tship  a  ii,ry  (An  (An  (An  may  for 
about  a  month  from  their  arrival  bi'  heard  pleasantly  echoing 
on  a  fine  morning  from  tiie  borders  of  ever\  low  marsh  and  wet 
meadow  ])rovided  with  tussocks  of  sedge-grass,  in  which  they 
indispensably  dwell,  for  a  time  engaged  in  the  cares  and  grati- 
fication of  raising  and  providing  for  their  young. 

The  nest  of  the  Short-billetl  Marsh  Wren  is  made  wholly  of 
dry  or  ])artly  green  sedge,  bent  usually  from  the  toj)  of  the 
grassy  tuft  in  which  the  fabric  is  situated.  \\'ith  much  inge- 
nuity and  labor  these  simple  materials  are  loosely  entwined 
together  into  a  spherical  form,  with  a  small  and  rather  obscure 
entrance  left  in  the  side  ;  a  thin  lining  is  sometimes  added  to 
the  whole,  of  the  linty  fibres  of  tlie  silk-weed  or  some  other 
similar  material.  'I'he  eggs,  pure  white  and  destitute  of  spots, 
are  probably  from  6  t(j  S.  In  a  nest  containing  7  eggs  there 
were  3  of  them  larger  than  the  rest  and  perfectly  fresh,  while 
the  4  snuincr  were  far  advanced  towards  hatching  ;  from  this 
circumstance  we  may  fairly  infer  that  /'iv^  diiferent  individuals 
had  laid  in  the  same  nest,  —  a  circumstance  more  common 
among  wikl  birds  than  is  generally  imagined.  This  is  also  the 
more  remarkable  as  the  male  of  this  species,  like  many  other 
Wrens,  is  much  employed  in  making  nests,  of  which  not  more 
than  one  in  three  or  four  are  ever  occupied  by  the  females. 

The  summer  limits  of  this  species,  confounded  with  the 
ordinary  ]\^arsh-^^'ren,  are  yet  unascertained  ;  and  it  is  singu- 
lar to  remark  how  near  it  aii])roaches  to  another  species  in- 
habiting the  temperate  parts  of  the  southern  hemisphere  in 
America,  namely,  the  Sylvia  p/atensis,  figured  and  indicated  by 


on  the 

•  luiics 

(l  and 
tic  else 

croak- 
[csccnd 
jucst  of 
te  tluir 
;[■  tluir 
;uay  for 
cchoinfj 
and  wet 
ch  they 
id  grati- 

dioUy  of 
[)  of  the 
L'h  inge- 
intwiiK'd 
obscure 
Idc'd  to 
other 
f  spots, 
s  there 
1,  while 
om  this 
ividuals 
ommon 
also  the 
ny  other 
lot  more 
ales, 
ith  the 
IS  singii- 
ecies  in- 
-)here  in 
:ated  by 


lie 


I.ONCi-IULLKI)    MARSn    WkKN. 


2/9 


HulTon.  The  time  of  arrival  and  (K'|iarture  in  this  <fpc<  ic^, 
agreeing  exactly  with  the  apiJearame  of  the  Mar-.h  Wren  of 
W'ikon,  appears  to  prove  that  it  also  exists  in  Pennsylvania 
with  the  following,  who^e  migration,  according  to  Audubon,  is 
more  than  a  month  earlier  and  later  than  that  of  our  bird.  Mr. 
( 'ooper,  however,  has  not  been  able  to  meet  with  it  in  the 
vicinity  of  New  Vork,  but  I  )r.  I'rudeau  found  its  nest  in  the 
marshes  of  the  1  )elaware. 

This  Wren  occurs  thnnii^^hout  the  Mastcrii  I'rovince  nonh  to 
Massachusetts  on  the  Atlantic,  and  in  tlie  wot  to  .Manitoba,  breed- 
ing generally  ncMtli  of  40^  and  winterin;;  in  the  (iulf  States.  It  is 
found  in  eastern  Canada  only  on  the  marshes  near  Lake  6t.  Clair. 


LOXd-BII.I.I'l)    MARSH    WRKN. 
CivinnioKis   l>\|  rsiKIS. 

Char.  .Above,  dull  roddisli  hrown,  darker  on  crown  ;  b.ick  biack, 
streaked  witii  white  ;  white  line  over  eyes;  winj;s  and  t.iil  with  dark  b.ir3; 
below,  buffy  white,  sh.idetl  uii  sides  with  brown,      l.ciiytii  5  to  5^^  inches. 

.Vcsf.  In  a  salt  marsh  or  reedy  swamp  of  interior,  t'a>teiied  to  reeds  or 
cat-tails  or  a  small  biisii  ;  composed  of  ,y;rass  and  reeds,  sometimes 
plastered  with  mud,  lined  with  tine  grass  or  feathers.  It  is  bulky  and 
spherical  in  form,  the  entrance  at  the  sitle. 

/t\v-  6-10  ;  gcnerallv  so  thickly  covered  with  dark-brown  spots  .is  to 
appear  uniform  chocolate  with  darker  spots;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  retiring  inhabitant  of  marshes  and  the  wet  and  sedgy 
borders  of  rivers  arrives  in  the  Middle  States  of  the  Union 
early  in  April,  and  retires  to  the  South  about  the  middle  of 
October.  It  is  scarcely  found  to  the  north  of  the  State  of 
New  Vork,  its  place  in  New  Mngland  being  usually  occupied 
by  the  preceding  species,  though  a  few  individuals  are  known 
to  breed  in  the  marshes  near  Cambridge  and  lioston. 

It  is  a  remarkably  active  and  quaint  little  bird,  skipping 
and  diving  about  with  great  activity  after  its  insect  food  and 
their  larvne  among  the  rank  grass  and  rushes,  near  ponds  and 
the  low  banks  of  rivers,  where  alone  it  affects  to  dwell,  laying 
no  claims  to  the  immunities  of  the  habitable  circle  of  man. 
but  content  with  its  favorite  marshes ;  neglected  and  seldom 


II 


2SO 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


fji 


III-  :  .: 


II 


!h 


''U-v\ 


»  ? 


1 

1 

1 

f      f 

i 

( 

( 

h 

H- 

■i-j- 

m 


M 


seen,  it  rears  its  young  in  security.  Tiie  song,  according  to  the 
obser\ations  of  a  friend,  '<h  very  similar  to  that  of  the  preced- 
ing,—  a  sort  of  short,  tremulous,  and  hurried  warble.  Its 
notes  were  even  yet  heard  in  an  island  of  the  Delaware,  opi)o- 
site  to  Philadelphia,  as  late  as  the  month  of  September,  where 
they  were  still  in  plenty  in  this  secluded  asylum.  Towards  tiie 
close  of  the  breeding  season  the  song  often  falls  off  into  a  low, 
gutturai,  bubbling  sound,  which  appears  almost  like  an  effort  of 
ventrilociuism. 

The  nest,  according  to  Wilson,  is  generally  suspended 
among  the  reeds  and  securely  tied  to  them  at  a  sutificient 
height  above  the  access  of  the  highest  tides.  It  is  formed  of 
wet  rushes  well  intertwisted  together,  mixed  with  mud,  and 
fashioned  into  the  form  of  a  cocoa-nut,  having  a  small  orifice 
left  ip.  the  side  for  entrance.  The  prmcipal  material  of  this 
nt-st,  as  in  the  pre(r(ling  species,  is,  however,  according  to 
.\udubon,  the  leaves  of  the  sedge-grass,  on  a  tussock  of  which 
it  also  occasionally  rests.  The  young  quit  the  nest  about  the 
20th  of  June,  and  ihey  generally  have  a  second  brood  in  the 
course  of  the  season.  From  liie  number  of  empty  nests  found 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  residence  of  the  Marsh  Wren,  it  is 
prottv  evident  that  it  is  also  much  employed  in  the  usual 
suj/v ifluc-as  or  capricious  labor  of  the  genus.  The  pugnacious 
character  of  the  males,  indeed,  forbids  the  possibility  of  so 
manv  n  n-;  'jcing  amicably  occupied  in  the  near  neighborhood 
in  which  tliey  are  commonly  found. 

This  Wren  is  common  in  suitable  localities  in  Massachusetts,  but 
has  not  been  found  farther  northward.  It  occurs  westward  to  the 
Pacific,  and  south  (in  winter)  to  the  (iulf  States.  It  appears  on 
Canadian  territory  only  in  .southern  Ontario  and  .Manitoba. 


Note.  — Worthixgton's  Marsh  Wrkx  {C.  paliistns  i^riscus) 
and  Marian's  Marsh  Wkkn  {C.  p.  mariaiue)  have  been  discov 
ered  somewhat  recently,  bo.h  are  smaller  than  true  palustris. 
Gfiscus  is  described  as  the  palest  of  the  three,  and  ••  its  dark  mark- 
ings are  less  pronounced.  It  is  restricted  to  the  coast  of  South 
Carolina  and  (jeorgia,"'  while  iiiariancc  has  been  found  only  on  the 
southwestern  coast  of  Florida.  The  latter  race  is  the  darkest  of 
the  three. 


RUBV-C  KOWN  KI )   KING  LET. 


281 


RUP.Y-CROWN  1<: I )    KINGLET. 
Regulus  CALEN  I  )U  I  .A . 

Char.  Above,  olive,  brighter  on  rump;  crown  witli  a  concealed  patch 
of  rich  scarlet,  white  at  the  base,  —  wanting  in  feniaie  and  young  ,  white 
ring  around  the  eyes;  wings  and  tail  chi.^ky,  the  leathers  edited  witii  dull 
bul^;  wings  with  two  white  bars,  below,  dull  white  tin;j,e(l  with  buff. 
Length  about  4J4  inches. 

iVt.'f.  In  woodland,  usually  partially  pensile,  suspended  iiom  extrem- 
ity of  branch,  —  often  placed  on  top  of  branch,  sometimes  against  the 
trunk,  —  on  coniferous  tree,  10  to  jo  feet  Irom  the  ground:  neatly  and 
compactly  made  of  shreds  of  bark,  gras>,  ami  moss,  lined  with  feathers  or 
hair. 

JS^j^s.  6-9;  dull  white  or  buff,  spotted,  ehietly  around  larger  end,  with 
bright  reddish  brown;  0.55  X  0.43. 

These  beautiful  little  birds  i)ass  the  summer  and  breeding 
season  in  the  colder  parts  of  the  North  American  continent, 
penetrating  even  t(j  the  dreary  coasts  of  ( irccnland,  whert',  as 
well  as  around  Hudson's  Bay  and  Labrador,  they  rear  their 
young  in  solitude,  and  obtain  abundance  of  the  diminutive 
flying  insects,  gnats,  and  t:ynips,  on  which  with  small  cater- 
pillars they  and  their  young  delight  to  feed.  Li  the  months  of 
October  and  November  the  approach  of  winter  in  their  natal 
regions  stimulates  them  to  migrate  towards  the  South,  when 
they  arrive  in  the  I'^astern  and  Middle  S(;Ues,  and  frequent  in 
a  familiar  and  unsuspicious  manner  the  gardens  and  orchards  ; 
how  flir  they  proceed  to  the  South  is  uncertain.  On  the  12th 
of  Januar}'  I  observed  them  near  C"h;nieston,  South  Carolina, 
with  companies  of  Sv/r/as  busily  darting  through  the  ever- 
greens in  swampy  situations  in  (piest  of  food,  i^robably  minute 
larvre.  About  the  first  week  in  Marcli  I  again  observed  them 
in  W  est  Florida  in  great  numbers,  busily  employed  for  hours 
together  in  the  tallest  trees,  some  of  which  were  alread\-  un- 
folding their  blossoms,  such  as  the  maples  and  oaks.  About 
the  beginning  of  .\pril  they  are  seen  in  Pennsylvania  on  their 
way  to  the  dreary  limits  of  the  continent,  where  they  only 
arrive  towards  the  close  of  May,  so  that  in  the  extremity  of 
their  range  they  do  not  stay  more  than  three  months.    Wilson, 


'Ii! 


U 


i' 


•I 


!! 


SINGING   BIRDS, 


it  would  appear,  sometimes  met  with  them  in  Pennsylvania 
even  in  summer;  but  as  far  as  1  can  learn,  they  are  never  t)l)- 
served  in  Massachusetts  at  that  season,  and  with  their  nest  and 
habits  of  incubation  we  are  unaccjuainted.  In  the  fall  they 
seek  society  apparently  with  the  'litmouse  and  Golden-Crested 
Kinglet,  with  whom  they  are  intimately  related  in  habits,  man- 
ners, and  diet ;  the  whole  forming  a  busy,  silent,  roving  com- 
pany, with  no  object  in  view  but  that  of  incessantly  gleaning 
their  now  scanty  and  retiring  prey.  So  eagerly,  indeed,  are 
they  engaged  at  this  time  that  scarcely  feeling  sympathy 
for  each  other,  or  willing  to  die  any  death  but  that  of  famine, 
they  continue  almost  uninterruptedly  to  hunt  through  the  same 
tree  from  which  their  unfortunate  companions  have  just  fallen 
by  the  destructive  gun.  They  only  make  at  this  time,  occa- 
sionally, a  feeble  chirp,  and  take  scarcely  any  alarm,  however 
near  they  are  observed.  Audubon  met  with  this  species  breed- 
ing in  Labrador,  but  did  not  discover  the  nest;  its  song,  he 
remarks,  is  fully  as  sonorous  as  that  of  the  Canary,  —  as  pow- 
erful and  clear,  and  even  more  varied. 

This  species  probably  breeds  from  about  latitude  45°  to  the 
lower  fur  countries,  and  on  the  higher  mountains  to  the  southward. 
Few  nests  have  been  discovered.  Rev.  Frank  Ritchie  found  one 
near  Lennoxville.  Quebec,  and  Harry  Austen  has  taken  another 
near  Halifax,  in  which  he  found  11  eggs. 

The  full  song  is  much  more  elaborate  and  more  beautiful  tlian 
the  bird  has  usually  been  credited  with,  for  it  has  been  described 
by  writers  who  have  heard  only  the  thin,  weak  notes  more  gener- 
allv  uttered.  Mr.  Chapman  describes  this  song  as  mellow  and 
riute-like,  "loud  enough  to  be  heard  several  liundred  yards:  an 
intricate  warble  past  imitation  or  description,  and  rendered  so 
admirably  that  I  never  hear  it  now  without  feeling  an  impulse  to 
applaud." 

Note.  —  Cuviek's  Kixgi-F.t  {Riyulii.';  cin'icr})  was  placed  on 
the  "  Hvpothet'cal  List"  by  the  A.  O.  U.  Committee.  The  simple 
bird  shot  bv  Audubon  in  Pennsylvania  is  the  only  specimen  that 
has  been  obtained. 


i        I 

;    ! 


Li.i 


GOLDEX-CROWX F.D    KI XG  LI :  T. 

ReGULUS    SATKArA. 

Char.  Above,  olive,  brightest  on  the  rump;  crown  with  patch  of 
orange  red  and  yellow,  bordered  by  black  (female  and  young  lacknig  the 
red)  ;  forehead  and  line  over  eyes  and  patch  beneath,  dull  white  ;  wings 
and  tail  dusky,  the  feathers  edged  with  dull  buff;  two  white  bars  on 
wings;  below,  dull  white  with  buff  tint.     Length  4  inches 

A\st.  In  damp  coniferous  woods,  often  wholly  or  partiallv  i)endent 
from  >niall  twigs  near  end  of  branch  (sometimes  saddled  upon  the  luaiuii) 
10  to  50  feet  from  the  ground;  usually  made  ut  green  mos^  and  lichens, 
lined  at  bottom  with  shreds  of  soft  bark  and  roots,  and  often  with  feathers 
fastened  to  inside  of  edge,  and  so  arranged  that  the  tips  droo|)  over  and 
conceal  tlie  eggs  ;  sometimes  the  nest  is  a  spherical  mass  of  moss  and 
lichens,  lined  with  vegetable  down  and  wool  ;  tin  entrance  at  the  side. 

y:,;;;'.!-.  6-10;  usually  creamy  or  pale  buff,  sometimes  white,  unmarked, 
or  dotted  with  pale  reddi>h  brown  and  lavender  over  entire  surface, 
often  merely  a  wreath,  more  or  le>s  distinct  around  larger  end;  0.55 
X  0.45. 

These  diminutive  birds  are  found,  according  to  the  season, 
not  only  throughout  Xorth  America,  but  e\-cn  in  the  West 
Indies.  They  ajipear  to  be  associated  only  in  pairs,  and  are 
seen  on  their  southern  route,  in  this  ])art  of  Massachusetts,  a 
few  days  in  October,  and  about  the  middle  of  the  month,  or  a 
little  earlier  or  later  according  to  the  setting  in  of  the  sea-on, 
as  they  appear  to  fly  before  the  desolating  storms  of  the  north- 
ern regions,  whither  they  retire  about  May  to  breed.  Some 
few  remain  in  Pennsylvania  until  December  or  January,  pro- 
ceeding probably  but  little  farther  south  during  the  winter. 
They  are  not  known  to  reside  in  any  part  of  Xew  England, 
retiring  to  the  same  remote  and  desolate  limits  of  the  farthest 
North  with  the  preceding  species,  of  which  they  have  most  of 


M-' 


I 


'ill 


■J 


'mam 


284 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


!■'•' 


ii; 


It 


the  habits.  They  are  actively  engaged  during  their  transient 
visits  to  the  South  in  gleaning  up  insects  and  their  lurking 
larvne,  for  which  they  perambulate  the  branches  of  trees  of 
various  kintls,  frequenting  gardens  and  orchards,  and  skii)ping 
and  vaulting  from  the  twigs,  sometimes  head  downwards  like 
the  Chick'idec,  with  whom  they  often  keep  company,  making 
only  now  anii  then  a  feeble  chirp.  They  appear  at  this  time 
to  search  chiefly  after  spiders  and  dormant  concealed  coleop- 
terous or  shelly  insects ;  they  are  also  said  to  feed  on  small 
berries  and  some  kinds  of  seeds,  which  they  break  open  by 
pecking  with  the  bill  in  the  manne  of  the  Titmouse.  They 
likewise  frequent  the  sheltered  cedar  and  pine  woods,  in  which 
tht-y  probably  take  up  their  roost  at  night.  Early  in  April 
they  are  seen  on  their  return  to  the  Nordi  in  Pennsylvania  ;  at 
this  time  they  dart  among  the  blossoms  of  the  maple  and  elm 
in  company  with  the  preceding  species,  and  appear  more  vola- 
tile and  actively  engaged  in  seizing  small  flies  on  the  wing,  and 
collecting  minute,  lurking  cater])illars  from  the  opening  leaves. 
* )n  the  2ist  of  May,  1S35,  I  observed  this  species  feeding 
its  full-fledged  young  in  a  tall  pine-tree  on  the  banks  of  the 
Columbia  River. 

Tlic  ranc;e  of  tliis  species  is  now  set  down  as  "  Fnstcrn  North 
America,  breeding  from  the  northern  border  of  the  United  States 
northward  and  southward  along  the  Rockies  and  the  Alleghanies; 
wintering  soutli  to  ( iuati'niala."  I'ntil  (|uite  recentlv  it  was  sup- 
posed to  be  a  migrant  throui^di  Massacluisetts.  wintering  in  small 
numl)ers.  but  has  been  discovered  breeding  in  both  r>erkshii'e  and 
Worcester  counties.  It  is  a  resident  of  the  settled  portion  of 
Canada,  though  not  common  west  of  the  Georgian  Bay,  and  rarely 
breeding  south  of  latitude  45°. 

The  song  is  a  rather  simple  "  twittered  warble,"  shrill  and  liigh- 
pitclied. 


id  liigli- 


BLUEBIRD. 

SlALIA    SIALIS. 

Char.  Male  :  above,  azure  blue,  duller  on  checks  ;  throat,  breast,  and 
sides  reddisii  brown  ;  belly  and  under  tail-coverts  white  ;  shalt^^  of  feathers 
in  wing  and  tail,  black.  Female  :  duller,  blue  of  back  nii.\cd  with  grayish 
brown;  breast  with  less  of  rufous  tint.     Length  about  6^4  inches. 

A'est.  In  a  hollow  tree,  deserted  Woodpecker's  IkjIc,  or  other  excava- 
tion or  crevice,  or  in  a  bird-box  ;  meagrely  lined  with  grass  or  feathers. 

Eggs.     4-6  ;  usually  pale  blue,  sometime^  almost  white  ;  o.S5  X  0.65. 

These  well-known  and  familiar  favorites  inhabit  almost  the 
whole  eastern  side  of  the  continent  of  America,  from  the  4<Sth 
parallel  to  the  very  line  of  the  tro])ics.  Some  appear  to  mi- 
grate in  winter  to  the  liermiidas  and  llahama  islands,  though 
most  of  those  which  pass  the  summer  in  the  North  only  retire 
to  the  Southern  States  or  the  tableland  of  Mexico.  In  S(juth 
Carolina  and  Georgia  they  were  abimdant  in  January  and  Feb- 
ruary, and  even  on  the  12th  and  2Sth  of  tlie  former  month,  the 
weather  being  mild,  a  few  of  these  wanderers  warbled  out  their 
sim])le  notes  from  the  naked  limbs  of  the  long-leaved  pines. 
Sometimes  they  even  pass  the  winter  in  Pennsylvania,  or  at 
least  make  their  appearance  with  almost  every  relenting  of  the 
severity  of  the  winter  or  warm  gleam  of  thawing  sunshine. 
From  this  circumstance  of  their  roving  about  in  cpiest  of  their 
scanty  food,  like  the  hard-pressed  and  himgry  Robin  Redbreast, 
who  by  degrees  gains  such  courage  from  necessity  as  to  enter 
the  cottage  for  his  allowed  crumbs,  it  has,  without  foundation, 


'  I   1 


■ 


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I 


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I 


286 


SINGING   lllRDS. 


\\i 


i«' 


I   -If 


I 


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I     i 


-        :                        :         ■    ■ 

;  1  .  , 


*i 


been  supposed  that  our  lUucbinl,  in  the  interwils  of  his  absence, 
passes  the  tedious  and  stormy  time  in  a  state  of  dormancy; 
but  it  is  more  probable  that  he  iHes  to  some  shclterctl  glade, 
some  warm  and  more  hosi)itable  situation,  to  glean  his  frugal 
fare  from  the  berries  of  the  cedar  or  the  wintry  fruits  which 
still  remain  ungathered  in  the  swamps.  Defended  from  the 
severity  of  the  cold,  he  nt)\v  also,  in  all  probability,  roosts  in 
the  hollows  of  decayed  trees,  —  a  situation  which  he  generally 
chooses  for  the  site  of  his  nest.  In  the  South,  at  this  cheer- 
less season,  l>luel)irds  are  seen  to  feed  on  the  glutinous  berries 
of  the  mistletoe,  the  green-brier,  and  the  sumach.  Content  with 
their  various  fare,  and  little  affected  by  the  extremes  of  heat 
and  cold,  they  breed  and  si)end  the  summer  from  Labrador  to 
Natches,  if  not  to  Mexico,  where  great  elevation  pnjduces  the 
most  temi)erate  and  mild  of  climates.  They  are  also  abundant, 
at  this  season,  to  the  west  of  the  Mississippi,  in  the  territories 
of  the  Missouri  and  Arkansas. 

In  the  Middle  and  Northern  States  the  return  of  the  Iilue- 
bird  to  his  old  haunts  round  the  barn  and  the  orchard  is 
hailed  as  the  first  agreeable  presage  of  returning  spring,  and  he 
is  no  less  a  messenger  of  grateful  tidings  to  the  farmer,  than 
an  agreeable,  familiar,  and  useful  companion  to  all.  Though 
sometimes  he  makes  a  still  earlier  flitting  visit,  from  the  3d  to 
the  middle  of  March  he  comes  hither  as  a  permanent  resident, 
and  is  now  accompanied  by  his  mate,  who  immediately  visits  the 
box  in  the  garden,  or  the  hollow  in  the  decayed  orchard  tree, 
which  has  served  as  the  cradle  of  preceding  generations  of  his 
kindred.  Affection  and  jealousy,  as  in  the  contending  and  re- 
lated Thnishes,  have  considerable  influence  over  the  IJluebird. 
He  seeks  perpetually  the  company  of  his  mate,  caresses  and 
soothes  her  with  his  amorous  song,  to  which  she  faintly  replies ; 
and,  like  the  faithful  Rook,  seeks  occasion  to  show  his  gallan- 
try by  feeding  her  with  some  favorite  insect.  If  a  rival  make 
his  appearance,  the  attack  is  instantaneous,  the  intruder  is 
driven  with  angry  chattering  from  the  precincts  he  has  chosen, 
and  he  now  returns  to  warble  out  his  notes  of  triumph  by  the 
side  of  his  cherished  consort.     The  business  of  preparing  and 


BLUEIIIKD. 


y.Q- 


.'S 


cleaning  out  the  old  nest  or  box  now  roninienres  :  and  even 
in  October,  before  they  bid  farewell  to  their  favorite  mansion, 
on  fine  days,  inlluenced  b\  the  anticipation  of  the  season,  they 
are  often  observed  to  go  in  and  out  of  the  box,  as  if  examining 
and  planning  out  their  future  domicile.  Little  pains,  however, 
are  recjuisite  for  the  protection  of  the  hardy  young,  and  a  sub- 
stantial lining  of  hay,  and  now  and  then  a  few  feathers,  is  all 
that  is  prepared  for  the  bru'od  beyond  the  natural  shelter  of 
the  chosen  situation.  As  the  Martin  and  House  Wren  seek 
out  the  favor  and  convenience  of  the  box,  contests  are  not 
unfrequent  with  the  parties  for  exclusive  possession  ;  and  the 
latter,  in  various  clandestine  ways,  exhibits  his  envy  and  hos- 
tility to  the  favored  lUuebird.  As  our  birds  are  very  prolific, 
and  constantly  paired,  they  often  raise  2  and  sometimes  prob- 
ably 3  broods  in  the  season  ;  the  male  taking  the  youngest 
under  his  affectionate  charge,  while  the  female  is  engaged  in 
the  act  of  mcubation. 

Their  principal  food  consists  of  insects,  particularly  beetles 
and  other  shelly  kinds ;  they  are  also  fond  of  sjjiders  and 
grasshoppers,  for  which  they  often,  in  company  with  their 
young,  ii>  autumn,  descend  to  the  earth,  in  open  i)asture  fields 
or  waste  grounds.  Like  our  Thrushes,  they,  early  in  spring, 
also  collect  the  common  wire -worm,  or  lulus,  for  food,  as  well 
as  other  kinds  of  insects,  which  they  commonly  watch  for, 
while  ])erched  on  the  fences  or  low  boughs  of  trees,  and  dart 
after  them  to  the  ground  as  soon  as  perceived.  They  are 
not,  however,  flycatchers,  like  the  Sy/i'iio/ijs  and  Mitsi-iia/'iis, 
but  are  rather  industrious  searchers  for  subsistence,  like  the 
Thrushes,  whose  habits  they  wholly  resemble  in  their  mode 
of  feeding.  In  the  autumn  they  regale  themselves  on  various 
kinds  of  berries,  as  those  of  the  sour-gum,  wild-cherry,  and 
others  ;  and  later  in  the  season,  as  winter  apj)roaches.  they 
frequent  the  red  cedars  and  several  species  of  sumach  for 
their  berries,  eat  persimmon^  in  the  Midille  States,  and  many 
other  kinds  of  fruits,  and  even  seah,  —  the  last  never  enter- 
ing into  the  diet  of  the  proper  Flycatchers.  They  have  also, 
occasionally,  in  a  state  of  confinement,  been  reared  and  i<.i\ 


■W 


(! 


288 


SINGING   15IRDS. 


tfl 


'ii^ 


'IS. 


1j 

m 


t  I 


ll 


t  > 


on  soaked  bread  and  vegetable  diet,  on  which  they  thrive  as 
well  as  does  the  Rol)in. 

The  song  of  the  l)luebird,  which  continues  almost  uninter- 
ruptedly from  Marcli  to  October,  is  a  soft,  rather  feeble,  but 
delicate  and  pleasing  warble,  often  repeated  at  various  times 
of  the  day,  but  most  fre([uently  in  early  spring  when  the  sky 
is  serene  and  the  temperature  mild  and  cheering.  At  this 
season,  before  the  earnest  Robin  pours  out  his  more  energetic 
lay  from  the  orchard  tree  or  fence-rail,  the  sim])le  song  of  this 
almost  domestic  favorite  is  heard  nearly  alone ;  and  if  at 
length  he  be  rivalled,  at  the  dawn  of  day,  by  superior  and 
bolder  songsters,  he  still  relieves  the  silence  of  later  hours  by 
his  unwearied  and  affectionate  attempts  to  please  and  accom- 
pany his  devoted  mate.  All  his  energy  is  poured  out  into  this 
simple  ditty,  and  with  an  ecstatic  feeling  of  delight  he  often 
raises  and  (piivers  his  wings  like  the  Mocking  Orpheus,  and 
amidst  his  striving  rivals  in  song,  exerts  his  utmost  powers  to 
introduce  variety  into  his  unborrowed  and  simple  strain.  On 
hearkening  some  time  to  his  notes,  an  evident  similarity  to  the 
song  of  the  Thrush  is  observable  ;  but  the  accents  are  more 
weak,  faltering,  and  inclining  to  the  ])laintive.  As  in  many 
other  instances,  it  is  nearly  impossible  to  give  any  approxi- 
mating idea  of  the  expression  of  warbled  sounds  by  words  ;  yet 
their  resemblance  to  some  (]uaint  ex]iressions,  in  part,  may  not 
be  useless,  as  an  attempt  to  recall  to  memory  these  pleasing 
associations  with  native  harmony :  so  the  IMuebirtl  often  at 
the  commencement  of  his  song  seems  tenderly  to  call  in  a 
whistled  tone  '//rar —  //I'ar  />//(v,  btity  ?  or  merely //<'<?;■ — /^/M', 
and  instantly  follows  this  interrogatory  call  with  a  s(jft  and  warb- 
ling trill.  So  much  is  this  sound  like  that  which  these  birds 
frequently  utter  that  on  whistling  the  syllables  in  their  accent, 
even  in  the  cool  days  of  autumn,  when  they  are  nearly  silent, 
they  often  resume  the  answer  in  sympathy.  During  the  period 
of  incubation,  the  male  becomes  much  more  silent,  and  utters 
his  notes  princijially  in  the  morning.  More  importantly 
engaged,  in  now  occasionally  feeding  his  mate  as  well  as  him- 
self, and  perhaps  desirous  of  securing  the  interesting  occupa- 


Ji  i'ijii 


<  ^m 


i5i.ui:r.iRi). 


2S9 


thrive  as 

;  nnintcr- 
?cble,  but 
JUS  times 

I  the  sky 
At  this 

energetic 
ig  of  this 
md  if  at 
erior  and 
hours  by 

II  accom- 
into  this 
he  often 

lens,  and 

[jowers  to 

ain.     On 

ity  to  the 

are  more 

in  many 

approxi- 

)rds  ;   yet 

may  not 

pleasing 

often   at 

call   in  a 

—  />u/y, 

11(1  warb- 

ese  birds 

accent, 

ly  silent, 

period 

d  utters 

Dortantly 

as  him- 

occupa- 


tion  of  his  devoted  consort,  he  avoids  betraying  the  resort  of 
his  charge  by  a  cautious  and  silent  interest  in  their  fate,  (len- 
tle,  peaceable,  and  funiliar  when  undisturl)e(l,  his  society  is 
courted  by  every  lover  of  rural  scenery;  and  it  is  not  un- 
cc^nnnon  for  the  farmer  to  t'urui^h  the  iiluebird  with  a  bo\,  as 
well  as  the  Martin,  in  return  for  the  pleasure  of  his  <()m]Mn\, 
the  destruction  he  makes  upon  injurious  insects,  and  tlir  (  iim- 
fulness  of  his  song.  Confident  in  this  {jrotection,  he  >lio\vs 
but  little  alarm  for  his  undisturbed  tenement  ;  whik'  in  the 
remote  orchard,  e\|jecting  no  viNitor  but  an  eneniv,  in  (  om- 
])any  with  his  anxious  mate  he  bewails  the  approach  of  the 
intruder,  and  llying  round  his  head  and  hands,  appear^  ])V  his 
actions  to  call  down  all  danger  tipou  jiimself  rather  than  ^ufter 
any  injury  U)  arrive  to  his  helpless  brood. 

Towards  autunni,  in  the  UKMith  of  October,  his  cheerful  song 
nearly  ceases,  or  is  now  changed  into  a  single  ])laintive  note 
o(  /s/un-it:'//,  while  he  passes  with  his  tlitting  companions  o\er 
the  fading  woods  ;  and  as  his  song  first  brought  the  wiliouie 
intelligence  of  sj)ring,  so  now  his  melancholy  ]ilaint  ])resages 
but  too  truly  the  silent  and  mournful  decay  of  Nature.  i".\-en 
when  the  leaves  have  fallen,  and  the  iore^t  no  longer  affords  a 
shelter  from  the  blast,  the  faithful  iUucbinls  still  linger  over 
their  native  fields,  and  only  take  their  departure  in  Novrniber, 
when  at  a  considerable  elevation,  in  the  earl\'  twilight  of  the 
morning,  till  the  opening  of  the  day,  they  wing  their  way  in 
small  roving  troops  to  some  milder  regions  in  the  South.  lUit 
yet,  after  this  period,  in  the  Midtlle  States,  with  every  return 
of  moderate  weather  we  hear  their  sad  note  in  the  fields  or  in 
the  air,  as  if  deploring  the  ravages  of  winter ;  and  so  frequent 
are  their  visits  that  they  may  be  said  to  follow  fair  weather 
through  all  their  wanderings  till  the  permanent  return  of  sjiring. 

If  the  Bluebird  ever  tried  the  climate  of  Labrador,  it  e\'i(lently 
discovered  tliat  the  weather  there  was  not  .suitable,  for  now  it  rarely 
goes  north  of  latitude  45°.  A  few  pairs  are  seen  every  season 
about  the  farm-lands  on  the  upper  St.  John,  in  New  brunswiek, 
and  I'hilip  Cox  has  seen  several  at  Newcastle,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Miramichi.  Conieau  found  a  pair  breeding  at  Godbout,  and 
Thompson  reports  that  lliey  have  lately  entered  Manitoba. 
\oL.  1.  —  19 


li 


({ii 


". 


I 


»t 


WHlvVn-.AK. 

S\XK()I.A    (KNAMUF. 

CllAR.  Above,  bluish  pray;  forehead  and  stripe  dvcr  eyes  white; 
patcii  on  check  andwin^s  l)lack;  rump  wliitc ;  middle  tail-feathers  black, 
rest  white,  broadly  tijiped  with  black;  under  jiart.s  white.  In  the  female 
the  upper  parts  are  brown,  and  unrlcr  jxirts  buff.     Length  6}4  inches. 

AVs/.  In  a  crevice  of  a  stone  wall  or  a  stone  heap  ;  made  of  plant 
stems  and  grass,  lined  with  feathers,  liair,  or  rabbit's  fur. 

ECk''^.  5-7;  I'ale  blue,  sometimes  spotted  with  pale  tawny,  or  purple; 
o..S5'xo.6s. 

The  first  mention  of  the  occurrence  of  this  species  in  eastern 
America  appeared  in  Ilolboll's  account  of  the  liirds  of  Greenland, 
issued  in  1S46;  it  had  been  reported  previously  from  the  I'acific 
coast  by  Vii^ors.  In  1854  the  name  appeared  in  Cassin's  work, 
and  in  Baird's  •' Repeat  "  of  1S59  it  was  recorded  as  "accidental 
in  the  northern  part  of  North  America." 

It  should  not  be  termed  accidental  at  the  present  day,  for  it 
occurs  regularly  in  Greenland  and  Labrador  and  at  Godbout,  on 
the  St.  Lawrence,  and  has  been  taken  in  winter  in  Nova  Scotia, 
Maine,  New  York,  Long  Island,  Louisiana,  and  Bermuda. 

American  writers  formerly  gave  the  vernacular  name  as  "Stone- 
chat,"  or  "Stone  Chat,"  —  Coues  alone  adding  Wheatear  (as  a 
synonym). 


'lif 


cs  white  ; 

rs  black, 

|lic  female 

ichcs. 

(if  plant 

Ir  purple  ; 


eastern 
feenland, 

I'acitic 
)'s  work, 
pcidental 

',  for  it 

|bout,  on 

Scotia, 

>"  Stone- 
ir  (as  a 


V 


\viii:\riAK. 


?9i 


The  Stoncchat  is  a  (litfercnl  bird,  thouj^h  Mafjillivray  i  ailed 
the  present  species  the  "  \Vhite-runii)ed  Stoncchat."  Tltrouglioiit 
Kuroi)e  tlie  bird  is  c  oininonlv  known  as  the  "  Wliilf  riiin|i."'  and 
Saunders  considers  the  name  ••  wlicatear  "'  a  coriiipti«)n  ol  u'ititr 
and  ars^  —  the  Anj;lo-.Sa\on  equiv.iient  ot  the  inodern  woril 
••  rump.*' 

In  i!uro])c  and  .Asia  tlie  sjiecies  is  aidindaiit,  breedini^  from  ten- 
tral  iuuope  far  to  tlu'  northward,  and  mi,iiratin<{  in  wintir  to  north 
ern  Africa.  A  few  winter  in  tlie  Hritish  Islands,  ihouj^li  these  may 
be  of  tin-  ( Ireenland  race,  which  some  aiitliors  think  is  a  di^tinct 
form,  —  lar.mr  than  those  that  breed  in  Kmope.  as  the  (irecn- 
land  birds  are  known  to  migrate  across  Great  l}ritaii\.  Kidnway 
states  that  the  examples  taken  on  our  western  coast  are  smaller  and 
more  like  those  found  in  central  lanope. 

Formerly  lar<ie  numbers  were  tr.ipped  in  the  autumn  on  the 
Soutlulowns  in  Knglanii,  and  marketrd.  being  consickreil  little 
inferior  in  delicacy  to  the  famous   Ortolans. 

The  favorite  resorts  of  the  Wheatear  at  all  seasons  are  the  lonely 
moors  or  open  meadows  by  the  sea-shore.  It  is  an  active  bird  and 
always  alert,  keej)ing  up  a  perpetual  tiittmg.  It  is  very  terrrestrial, 
though  the  (ireenlantl  race  is  said  to  perch  on  trees  more  fre- 
quently than  the  Kuropean  bird. 

The  song  is  sweet  and  sprightly,  and  the  male  often  sings  while 
hovering  over  his  mate. 

.Mr.  Ilagerup  writes  to  me  that  the  birds  in  (ireenland  sing  at 
times  very  similarly  to  the  Snow  Huntings,  —  a  song  that  he  never 
heard  from  the  Wheatears  of  Denmark,  —  and  this  song  is  ren- 
dered by  both  females  and  males.  Seebohm  writes:  "The  love 
notes  form  a  sliort  but  pleasing  song:  and  the  more  particularly 
are  we  apt  to  view  his  performance  with  favor,  because  it  gener- 
ally greets  the  ear  m  wild  and  lonely  places."  And  again  :  '•  .Some- 
times he  warbles  his  notes  on  his  perch.  accompan\  ing  tliem  with 
graceful  motion  of  the  wings,  and  finally  launching  into  the  air  to 
complete  liis  .song,  the  aerial  fluttering  seeming  to  give  the  perform- 
ance additional  vigor."  Dixon  has  seen  *'  two  Wheatears  in  the 
air  together,  buffeting  each  other,  and  singing  lustily  all  the  time, 
with  all  the  sweetness  that  love  rivalry  inspires." 


I 


n' 
I 

i' 


It 


AMKRKAX    rilTP. 

TITLAKK. 
Anthus  PKNSII.VANICUS. 

Char.  Above,  olixc  l)io\vn,  edges  of  the  feathers  paler;  line  over 
and  around  llie  eve  pale  Initf ;  winas  dusky,  edges  of  feathers  pale  brown  ; 
tail  diiskv.  middle  feathers  olive  brown,  large  jiatches  of  white  on  outer 
feathers;  below,  dull  buff,  breast  and  sides  spotted  with  brown.  Length 
6ji  inches. 

.\('.r/.  On  the  ground,  usually  sheltered  by  stone  or  mound  ;  a  bulky 
affair  of  grass,  steins,  moss,  and  lichens,  —  sometimes  only  grass  is  u^ed, 
—  often  loosely  made,  occasionally  compact. 

A..yr.  4-6;  variable  in  color,  usuallv  dull  white  covered  thickly  with 
reddish  lirown  and  purplish  brown  ;  sometimes  the  markings  so  nearly 
conceal  the  grotnul  color  as  to  give  appearance  of  a  brown  egg  with 
gray  streaks  ;  o  So  X  0.60. 

This  is  a  winter  bird  of  passage  in  most  parts  of  the  United 
States,  arriving  in  loose,  scattered  flocks  from  the  North,  in 
the  Middle  and  Eastern  States,  about  the  second  week  in 
October.  In  the  month  of  .\]iril  we  saw  nimierous  flocks 
flitting  over  the  prairies  of  Missouri,  on  their  way,  no  doubt, 
to  their  breeding  quarters  in  the  interior.  Aiidnbon  foimd 
these  birds  also  in  the  summer  on  the  drear}'  coast  of  Labra- 
dor. During  the  breeding  season  the  male  often  rises  on  wing 
to  the  height  of  eight  or  ten  yards,  uttering  a  few  clear  and 


h 


AMr.ktc.\>    vivvv. 


293 


line  over 

le  brown ; 

on  outer 

Length 

;x  bulky 
is  u^etl, 

kly  with 

-o   nearly 

egg  with 

United 

orth,  in 

week  in 

flocks 

doubt, 

found 

Labra- 

on  wing 

ear  and 


mellow  notes,  and  then  suddenly  settles  down  near  the  nest  or 
on  some  projecting  rock.  They  leave  I-abr.idor  and  New- 
foMiidland  as  soon  as  the  young  are  abU"  to  lly.  or  alxiut  the 
middle  of  August.  .\cct)rding  to  their  well-known  habits,  they 
frequent  open  tlats,  commons,  an<l  ploughed  fields,  like  a 
I. ark,  nmning  rai)idly  along  the  groun<l,  taking  by  suri>ri>e  their 
insect  prey  of  llies,  midges,  and  other  kinds,  and  when  re^t- 
ini;  for  an  instant,  keeping  the  tail  vibrating  in  the  manner  of 
the  Kuro])ean  Wagtail.  'I'luy  also  frequent  the  river  shores, 
partictil  irly  where  gravelly,  in  <[uest  of  nunute  shell-fish,  as 
well  as  aquatic  insects  and  their  larvae.  .\t  this  time  they 
utter  only  a  feeble  note  or  call,  like  Awv  /  /?i'<r/,  with  the  final 
tone  often  plaintively  i)rolonged  ;  and  when  in  tlocks,  wheel 
about  and  tly  pretty  high,  and  to  a  considerable  distance  before 
they  alight.  Sometimes  families  oi  these  birds  continue  all 
winter  in  the  Mit'dle  States,  if  the  season  prove  moderate.  In 
the  Southern  States,  particularly  North  and  South  Carolina, 
they  apjjear  in  great  flocks  in  the  depth  of  winter.  On  the 
shores  of  the  Santee,  in  January,  I  observed  them  gleaning 
their  food  familiarly  amidst  the  \'ultures.  drawn  by  the  nibbish 
of  the  city  conveyed  to  this  quarter.  They  likewise  frequent 
the  cornfields  and  rice-grounds  for  the  same  purpose.  They 
emigrate  to  the  Bermudas,  Cuba,  and  Jamaica,  and  penetrate 
in  the  course  of  the  winter  even  to  Mexico,  Guiana,  and 
Dra7.ii,  They  also  inhabit  the  plains  of  the  Oregon.  They 
are  again  seen  on  their  return  to  the  North,  in  Pennsylvania, 
about  the  beginning  of  May  or  close  of  April. 

The  Titlark  is  distributed  over  North  America  at  large,  breed- 
ing in  subarctic  res^ions  and  wintering  in  the  Ciulf  States  and 
Central  America.  During  the  aiitiuun  niiiirations  it  is  abundant 
on  the  moorlands  along  the  coasts  of  New  England  and  the 
Maritime  Provinces. 


XoTE.  —  Two  European  conu;eners  of  the  TiUark.  the  White 
W.\GTAIL  {Motacilhj  allni)  and  the  .Mi:ai)OW  Piimt  {Ant/iiis pnt- 
/I'fi.i/s)  have  been  captured  in  Greenland,  but  should  be  considered 
merelv  as  "  accidentals"  in  that  region. 

Spkaguk's  Piimt  (.h//////s  spra^ueii),  a  bird  of  the  western 
plains,  has  been  taken  near  Charleston,  S.  C. 


l! 


II 


>  ■     n 


I 


^•"  ■  ■   T' 


^M&mMk^ 


^i<K^ 


t 

t 


:  ':' 


HORNED    LARK. 

SIlOKl':    I.AKK. 
Ol'OiOKlS    AI.l'l  SI  RIS. 

ClfAR.  Above,  dull  gravi^h  lirown  streaked  with  darker:  nape,  shrul- 
dcrs,  and  nunp  i)iiik-vinace(iu!i  cimi.r.  ion;  black  bar  acro>»  furehead  and 
along  sides  of  head,  terminating  in  erectile  horn-like  tufts;  throat  and 
line  over  the  eves,  vellow  :  black  bar  from  nostril  curving  l)elo\v  the  eyes; 
l>el(i\v,  dull  white,  shaded  on  the  sides  with  same  color  as  back;  breast 
tinged  with  yellow  and  bearing  large  black  patch;  niiddie  tail-feathers 
like  back,  the  rest  black,  with  white  patches  on  outer  pair.  Length  about 
7_^  inches. 

/\V.>7.  On  tlu  ground,  amid  abed  of  mo^■.s ;  cotnposed  of  gras<,  lined 
with  feathers. 

F.,:;:^s.  4-5  .  dull  white  with  buff  or  purple  tint  spotted  with  purplish 
brown  or  olive  blown  and  lilac;  0.93  X  0.70. 

This  beautiful  spet  ies  is  comiTion  to  the  north  of  both  the  old 
and  new  continent ;  but,  as  in  some  other  instances  already  re- 
marked, the  Shore  Lark  extends  its  migrations  nmch  farther  mer 
America  than  over  Liiroj^e  and  Asia.  Our  bird  has  been  met 
with  in  the  Arctic  regions  by  the  numerous  voy.igers,  and  Mr. 
Bullock  saw  it  in  the  winter  around  the  city  of  Mexico,  so  that 
in  their  migrations  over  this  continent  these  birds  >pread  them- 
selves across  the  whole  habitable  northern  hemisphere  to  the 
very  equator ;  while  in  Liirope,  according  to  the  careful  obser- 


.^ 

m 

Pi 

fev-:i 

i  i'i' 

fc^^ 

;  -ti^ 

^ 

\  -■■ 

'I 


pe,  shf  Ill- 
head  and 
hr<iat  and 
the  ovLs; 
k  ;  breast 
il-fcathcrs 
^th  about 

as-,  lined 

purplish 

n  the  old 
k-i(ly  re- 
luT  ovor 
leon  mt't 
and  Mr. 
so  that 
id  ilK-m- 
■e  to  tlie 
lul  obser- 


IIORXKD    I.ARK. 


295 


vations  of  Temminck,  they  .irc  unknown  to  the  south  of  Ocr- 
niany.  Palhis  met  with  these  birds  round  Lake  liaikal  and  on 
the  \'olga,  in  the  53d  degree  of  latitude.  W  estward  they  have 
also  been  seen  in  the  interior  of  the  United  States,  along  the 
shores  of  the  Missouri. 

They  arrive  in  the  Northern  and  Middle  States  late  in  the 
fall  or  commencement  of  winter.  In  New  I'.ngland  thev  are 
seen  early  in  October,  and  disappear  gcnerall\  on  the  apj)roach 
of  the  deep  storms  (if  snow,  though  straggling  parlies  are  still 
found  nearly  throughout  the  winter.  In  the  other  States  to 
the  South  they  are  more  c(juunon  at  this  season,  and  are  jiar- 
ticularly  numerous  in  South  Carolina  and  decjrgia.  friHpienting 
ojjen  plains,  t)ld  fields,  common  grounds,  and  the  dry  shores 
and  banks  of  bays  and  ri\ers,  keei)ing  constantlv  on  the 
ground,  and  roving  alxjut  in  families  under  the  guid.'.nce  of  the 
older  birds,  who,  watching  for  any  apjjroac  hing  danger,  give 
the  alarm  to  the  young  in  a  plaintive  call  ^-. ry  similar  to  that 
which  is  uttered  by  the  Skylark  in  the  same  cin  uin-.tances. 
Inseparable  in  all  their  movements,  like  the  hen  and  her  fos- 
tered chickens,  they  roost  together  in  a  close  ring  or  com- 
pany, by  the  mere  edge  of  some  sheltering  weed  or  tuft  k){ 
grass  on  the  dry  and  gravelly  gnjund,  an<l  thickly  and  warmly 
clad,  they  abide  the  frost  and  the  storm  with  hardy  imlilVe- 
rence.  They  lly  rather  high  and  loose,  in  scattered  companies, 
and  follow  no  regular  time  of  migration,  but  move  onward  only 
as  their  present  resources  begin  to  fail.  They  are  usually  fat, 
esteemed  as  food,  and  are  fre(iuently  seen  exjx^ed  for  sale  in 
our  markets.  Their  diet,  as  usual,  consists  of  various  kinds  of 
seeds  which  still  remain  on  the  grass  and  wi'eds  the\-  freiiuent, 
and  they  swallow  a  considerable  |)ortion  of  gravel  to  assist 
their  digestion.  They  also  collect  the  eggs  and  dormant 
larva^  of  insects  when  they  fall  in  thi'irway.  About  the  middle 
of  March  they  retire  to  the  North,  and  are  seen  about  the 
beginning  of  May  round  Hudson  lla.y,  after  which  they  are 
no  more  obser\'ed  till  the  return  of  autumn,  'i'hey  arrive  in 
the  fur  countries  along  with  the  I.a])land  I'jimtings,  with  which 
they  associate ;  and  being  more  shy,  act  the  sentinel  usually  to 


i     t 


■    f 


w  k 


'I  '^' 


« 


(I 


M 


296 


SINGING    IHRDS. 


the  whole  company  in  advcrtisnig  them  of  the  approach  of 
danger.  They  soon  after  retire  to  the  marshy  and  wuotly  (hs- 
tricts  to  l)reed,  extentUng  their  summer  range  to  the  Arctic  Sea. 
They  are  sai<l  to  sing  well,  rising  into  the  air  and  warbling  as 
they  ascend,  in  the  manner  of  the  Skylark  of  Europe.  '-'Ihe 
male,"  says  Audubon,  like  the  Common  Lark.  "  soars  into  the 
air,  sings  with  cheerfulness  ov-r  the  resort  of  his  mate,  and 
roosts  beside  her  and  his  nest  on  the  ground,  having  at  this 
season  a  very  remarkable  ai)pearance  in  the  development  of 
the  black   and  horn-like   egrets." 

Hapin'  Nuttall,  to  have  died  helorc  "variety  making'  came  into 
fashion!  ]'<>u  had  but  one  form  ul  Horned  Lark  to  dual  with, 
while  I  am  confronted  with  eleven.  Fortunately  a  largL'  number  of 
these  sub-species  have  never  taken  it  into  tiieir  horned  heads  to 
cross  into  the  territory  under  present  consideration,  so  I  am  saved 
from  puzzling  myself  and  my  readers  with  their  diagnosis. 

The  true  alpestris  is  found  during  sununer  in  the  region  be- 
tween the  (iulf  of  .St.  Lawrence  and  Greenland  west  to  Hudson 
Bay,  and  in  winter  south  to  about  latitude  35^.  It  is  cjuite  common 
along  the  New  England  shores  while  migrating  and  in  winter. 

Tlie  Pkaikiic  Hornko  Lark  {O.  alpestris praticoUi)  is  a  smaller 
bird  with  very  gray  back  ;  line  over  eyes  white;  c\\\n  pale  yellow. 

This  race  is  found  in  summer  along  the  upper  Mississippi  valley 
and  (ireat  Lake  region,  eastward  sjjaringly  to  Montreal.  \'ermont, 
and  Long  Island.  It  is  resident  over  the  greater  portion  of  its 
range,  but  some  few  winter  south  to  the  Carolinas  and  Texas. 


il 


If. 


-ra 


i  'I 


ii 


SKY  I. ARK. 

Alauda  au\f.nsis. 

Chak.  Above,  yellowish  brown  streaked  with  dark  brown,  darkest  on 
back  and  crown  ;  buff  streak  over  the  eye  ;  wings  brown,  margined  with 
buff  and  tipped  with  white  ;  outer  tail-feathers  mostlv  white  ;  below,  pale 
buff,  spotted  and  streaked  with  brown.     Length  atiout  7  inches. 

A'tsf.  In  a  meadow,  under  a  tuft  of  grass  ;  made  of  coarse  and  fine 
grass. 

^AX^-     3~5 ;  ^li'"  'A^^y>  marked  with  olive  brown  ;  0.91;  X  0.70. 

Altlioii«;h  not  mentioned  by  Nuttall,  this  I'.tiropcan  bird  becomes 
entitled  to  a  place  anioni;;  tlie  birds  of  America  tliroii!,di  its  occur- 
rence casually  in  Creenland  and  Ucrnnida.  About  1.SS6  a  number 
of  these  birds  were  liberated  in  New  \'()rk  State  and  New  Jersey, 
and  in  1SS8  a  colony  appeared  established  at  i'latbush,  Lonjj 
Island  :  but  the  experiment  has  not  been  successful,  for  this  colony 
has  disappeared,  and  Mr.  Frank  M.  Chajinian.  writint^  in  1805, 
says:  ".At  the  present  time  tlie  species  is  not  known  to  exist  in 
North  America  in  a  wild  state." 


(1)1 
ill 


ii 


298  SINGING   BIRDS. 


DICKCISSKL. 

BLACK-TIIKOATKD    HUNTING. 

SPIZA    A.MKKICANA. 

Thar.  Male:  above,  ,t;ray  Ijiowii,  inidcUc  of  back  streaked  with 
bkick  ;  iiai)c  and  side  ot  head  ash  ,  ciown  olive  streaked  with  dusky  ;  line 
over  the  eyes  yellow  ;  chin  white  ;  large  patch  of  black  on  throat ;  two 
wing-bars  chestnut ;  edge  of  wing  yellow;  below,  wiiite  tinged  with  yel- 
low ;  sides  shaded  with  brown.  Female:  similar,  somewhat  smaller; 
throat  without  patch,  but  with  black  spots ;  less  tinge  of  yellow  on  lower 
parts.     Length  6  to  7  inches. 

Ais/.  On  the  i)rairie  or  in  a  field  or  pasture  or  open  scrubbv  woods  ; 
placed  ujjon  the  ground  or  in  a  bush  or  low  tree,  sometimes  10  to  20 
feet  from  ground  ,  made  of  grass,  wecd-stalks,  leaves,  and  roots,  lined 
with  hue  grass  or  hair. 

ii>o.     4-5  ;  pale  greenish  blue,  unspotted  ;  o.So  X  0.60. 

These  birds  arrive  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  England  from 
the  South  about  the  middle  of  May,  and  abotmd  in  the  vicinity 
of  rhiladelphia,  where  they  seem  to  prefer  level  fields,  building 
their  nests  on  the  groimd,  ehiefly  of  fine  withered  grass.  'J'hey 
also  inhabit  the  ])rairies  of  Missouri,  the  State  of  New  York, 
the  remote  northern  regions  of  Hudson's  Uay,  and  are  not  un- 
common in  this  i^art  of  New  England,  dwelling  here,  however, 
almost  exclusively  in  the  high,  fresh  meadows  near  the  salt- 
marshes.  Their  song,  simi)le  and  monotonous,  according  to 
^Vilson  consists  only  of  five  notes,  or  rather  two,  the  first 
being  rejicated  twice  and  slowly,  the  second  thrice  and  rapidly, 
resembling  /s//s/^  tship,  tshc  tshc  tshc.  ^^'ith  us  their  call  is  'tic 
'til  —  tshc  tshc  tshc  tsh'ip,  and  tship  tship,  tshc  tshc  tshc  tsliip. 
From  their  arrival  nearly  to  their  departure,  or  for  two  or  three 
months,  this  note  is  perpetually  heard  from  every  level  fielil  of 
grain  or  grass  ;  both  sexes  also  often  mount  to  the  top  of  some 
low  tree  of  the  orchard  or  meadow,  and  there  conlimte  to 
chirp  forth  in  tinison  their  sinijile  ditty  for  an  hour  at  a  time. 
While  thus  engaged  they  may  l)e  nearly  approached  without 
exhibiting  any  appearance  of  alarm  or  suspicion  ;  and  though 
the  species  appears  to  be  numerous,  they  live  in  harmony,  and 


I  l< 


ked  with 
isk\  ;  line 
oat ;  two 
with  yel- 
smalitr  ; 
on  lower 

y  woods  ; 

lo  to  20 

ots,  lined 


nd  from 
vicinity 
building 
;.  They 
w  York, 
not  un- 

lOWCVCV, 

he  salt- 
ding  to 
the  first 
rapidly, 
is  'tic 
he  i.diif^. 
or  three 
field  of 
of  some 
in  lie  to 
a  time, 
without 
though 
)nv,  and 


DICKCISSEL. 


299 


rarely  display  any  hostility  to  the  birds  around  them,  or 
amongst  each  (Jther.  In  August  they  become  miUe,  and  about 
the  beginning  of  Sei)tember  depart  for  the  South,  wintering  as 
well  as  breetling  in  Texas  and  other  parts  of  Mexico,  but  are 
not  seen  in  the  Southern  States  at  any  jjeriod  of  the  winter. 
Their  food  consists  of  seeds,  eggs  of  insects,  and  gravel,  and  in 
the  early  i)art  of  summer  they  sul).-,ist  much  upon  caterpillars 
and  small  coleopterous  insects  ;  they  arc  also  among  the  many 
usual  destroyers  of  the  ruinous  cankerworm. 

This  species  is  now  restricted  chictly  to  the  \  alh  y  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, though  it  occurs  s[)arinuly  in  southern  New  Kngland,  but 
is  merely  accidental  fartlicr  to  the  northward.  Tiic  oidy  example  s 
that  have  been  met  with  in  Canada  were  tlie  few  that  Mr.  William 
E.  Saunders  *"ound  breeding  at  Point  Pelee  in  southern  Ontario. 

Mr.  William  brewster,  writing  of  this  species,  says:  ••  It  is  nnw 
uncjuestionably  one  of  the  rarest  species  known  to  breed  within 
this  rei^ion  (New  f^ngland).  Moreover,  within  the  past  two  de- 
cades it  has  practically  tlisappeared  from  the  .Middle  Stales,  where 
it  was  formerly  abundant,  and  at  many  localities  west  of  the  .\lle- 
ghanii's  and  east  of  the  Mississippi  its  numbers  have  diminished 
steadily  and  more  or  less  r.ipidly." 


XoTK.  —  Townsicnd's  IU'ntinc;  {Spiza  to:^'nsLiit1ii)  was  placed 
on  the  '•  Hypothetical  List "'  by  the  A.  O.  U .  Committee.  The  type 
specimen  taken  by  .Mr.  Townsend  in  Penns^Kania  remains  unicpie. 

The  Lark  ]>u.\ti.n(.  {Calamospha  uiclanoioiys)  has  been  seen 
in  Massachusetts  and  Long  Island,  —  the  only  instances  of  its  oc- 
currence east  of  the  Great  Plains. 


!i 


i 


II 


it 


•-    ^ 


j: 


Hi' 


(lii 


I! 


SNOW  FT, ARE. 

SNOW    nUNTING.     WIllTK   SNOW    BIRD. 
P[,F,(.'rR<  )I'HK\AX    N'lVAT.lS. 

Char.  Tn  summer,  prevailing  color  white;  middle  of  liack,  wings,  and 
tail  mixed  with  black.  In  autumn  the  d.irk  color  is  extended,  the  black 
being  broadly  margined  with  tawnv  brown,  which  gradually  becomes  white 
as  winter  advances.     Length  about  6'/  inches. 

jVrsf.  On  a  barren  hillside,  under  shelter  of  a  rock  or  in  a  stone  heap, 
sometimes  in  cavity  of  a  sand-bank;  compactly  built  of  dry  grass,  plant 
stems,  and  moss,  lined  with  feathers  and  hair. 

/\i,%'s.  4-6  ;  dull  white,  with  faint  tint  of  blue  or  green,  spotted,  chiefly 
aroimd  larger  end,  with  reddish  brown  and  lavender;  0.90  X  O.65. 

This  messenger  of  coUl  antl  stormy  weather  chiefly  in- 
habits the  higher  regions  of  the  Arctic  circle,  whence,  as  the 
severity  of  the  winter  threatens,  they  migrate  indifferently  over 
Europe,  eastern  Asia,  and  the  Tnited  States.  On  their  way  to 
the  South  they  appear  round  Hudson  IJay  in  September,  and 
stay  till  the  frosts  of  November  again  oblige  them  to  seek  out 
warmer  quarters.     I'^arly  in  December  they  make  their  descent 


lili: 


SNOWFI.AKK 


301 


1,  chiefly 

fly  in- 
as  the 
ly  over 
way  to 
-T,  and 
.'ek  out 
lesf^ont 


into  the  Northern  States  in  whirling  roving  flocks,  either  im- 
mediately before  or  soon  after  an  inundating  fall  of  snow. 
Amidst  the  drifts,  and  as  they  accumulate  with  the  Mast,  flocks 
of  these  ///?i.'(irs /ci^i/.  or  bad-weather  birds,  of  the  Swedes,  like 
the  spirits  of  the  storm  are  to  be  seen  flitting  about  in  restless 
and  hungry  troo])s,  at  times  resting  on  the  wooden  fences, 
tl-.ough  but  for  an  instant,  as,  like  the  (  ongcnial  Tartar  hordes 
of  tiicir  natal  regions,  they  appear  now  to  have  no  other 
objec  I  in  view  but  an  escape  from  famine  and  to  tarr)'  on  a 
general  system  of  forage  while  they  happen  to  stay  in  the 
vicinity.  At  times,  pressed  by  hunger,  they  alight  near  the 
door  of  the  cottage  and  ai)proach  the  barn,  or  even  venture 
into  the  out-houses  in  ijuest  of  ilormant  inse<  ts.  seeds,  or 
crumbs  wherewith  to  allay  their  hunger ;  they  are  still,  how- 
ever, generally  pltnup  and  fat,  and  in  some  countries  nmch 
esteemed  for  the  table.  In  fine  weather  they  appear  less  rest- 
less, somewhat  more  familiar,  and  occasionally  even  at  this 
season  they  chant  out  a  few  unconnected  notes  as  they  sur\ey 
the  h;)p])ier  face  of  Nature.  At  the  period  of  incubation  they 
are  said  to  sing  agreeably,  l)nt  ai)iK'ar  to  seek  out  the  most 
desolate  regions  of  the  cheerless  North  in  whi(  h  to  waste  the 
sweetness  of  their  melody,  unheard  by  any  ear  but  that  of  their 
mates.  In  the  dreary  wastes  of  (Ireenland,  the  naked  I.ipland 
Alps,  and  the  scarcely  habitable  Spitzbergen,  boun<l  with  eter- 
nal ice,  they  jiass  the  season  of  rei)roduction  seeking  out  the 
fissures  of  rocks  on  the  mountains  in  which  to  fix  their  nests 
about  the  month  of  May  or  June.  .\  few  are  known  to  breed 
in  the  alpine  declivities  of  the  \\'hite  Nbjuntains  of  New 
Ilamjishire.  The  nest  is  here  fixed  on  the  ground  in  the 
shelter  of  low  bushes,  and  formed  nearly  of  the  same  materials 
as  that  of  the  Common  Song  Sjiarrow. 

At  times  they  proceed  as  far  south  in  the  United  States  as 
the  State  of  Maryland.  They  are  here  generally  known  by  the 
name  of  the  White  Snow  liird,  to  distinguish  them  from  the 
more  common  dark-bluish  Sparrow,  so  called.  They  var\'  in 
their  color  accortling  to  age  and  season,  and  have  always  a 
great  predominance  of  white  in  their  plumage. 


I 


U' 


'I 


d 


'(■ 


i^i 


;502 


SINGING    UIRiiS. 


The  Snow  l^untings  arc  seen  in  spring  to  assemble  in  Nor- 
way and  its  islands  in  great  nnnibers  ;  and  after  a  stay  of  about 
three  weeks  they  ilisajjpear  for  the  season,  and  migrate  across 
the  .\r(ti<:  Ocean  to  tiie  firihest  known  land.  Un  their  return 
in  winter  to  the  Sixjttish  Highlands  their  llo(  ks  are  said  to  be 
immense,  mingling,  by  an  aggregating  close  tlight,  almost  into 
the  form  of  a  ball,  so  as  to  present  a  very  fatal  and  successful 
mark  for  the  fowler.  They  airi\e  lean,  but  soon  become  fat. 
In  Austria  they  are  caught  in  snares  or  traps,  and  when  fed 
with  ,;<illet  become  e(iual  to  th(.'  ( )rtolan  in  v.'lue  and  lla\-or. 
/  bcr  caged  they  show  a  very  wakeful  disposition,  instantly 
'  .])p  n/  al)out  in  the  night  when  a  light  is  protluce-d.  Indul- 
gence in  I  's  constant  train  of  action  and  jjcrpetual  wai(  iitul- 
ness  may  perhajw  have  its  inlluence  on  this  ^jjccies,  in  the 
selection  of  their  breeding  j)laces  within  the  Arctic  regions, 
where  for  months  they  (oiuinue  to  enjoy  a  perpetual  day. 

The  food  of  these  birds  consists  of  vari(,us  kinds  of  seeds 
and  the  larvae  of  insects  and  miniUe  shell-fish  ;  the  seed^  of 
a(inaiic  plants  are  also  Nometimes  sought  bv  them,  and  I  ha.ve 
found  in  their  stomachs  those  of  the  Riif^l^iii,  species  of  Poly- 
i^oniiin.  and  gravel.  In  a  state  of  confinement  they  shell  and 
eat  oats,  millet,  hemp-seed,  and  green  peas,  which  the\'  s])lit. 
'I'hey  rarely  perch,  ami,  like  Larks,  live  much  on  the  ground. 

This  harbinger  of  winter  breeds  in  the  northernmost  of  the 
American  islands  and  on  all  the  shores  of  the  continent  from 
Chesterfield  Inlet  to  I'.ehring's  Straits.  The  most  southerly  of 
its  breeding  stations  in  America,  according  to  Richardson,  is 
Southampton  Island,  m  the  62(1  parallel,  where  Captain  Lyons 
found  a  nest,  by  a  strange  fatality,  j)laced  in  the  bosom  of  the 
exposed  corpse  of  an  Lsquimaux  child.  Well  clothed  and 
hardy  by  nature,  the  Snow  Hunting  even  lingers  about  the  forts 
of  the  fur  countries  and  open  places,  picking  uj')  grass-seeds, 
until  the  snow  becomes  deep.  It  is  only  during  the  months 
of  December  and  January  that  it  retires  to  the  southward 
of  Saskatchewan,  and  it  is  seen  again  there  on  its  return 
as  early  as  the  middle  of  February,  two  months  after  which 
it  arrives  in  the  65th  parallel,  and  by  the  beginning  of  May  it 


■i:!iin 


SNOWII.AKK. 


303 


n  Nor- 

f  about 
across 
re turn 

1    to    1)1' 

jst  into 
;:cessl"ul 
imc  fat. 
hen  k(l 
1  tlivor. 
nslantly 
In.lul- 
ati  hful- 
,  in   ilic 
regions, 
ly. 

:)f  seeds 
sce(l>  of 
il  I  have 

of  r<>/v- 

hell  and 
ey  split, 
roinid. 
st  of  the 
nt  from 
Itheiiy  of 
lid  son,  is 
n  Lyons 
n  of  the 
ficd    and 
Ithe  forts 
s-seeds, 
months 
uthward 
;-,  return 
r  which 
May  it 


has  penetrated  to  the  coast  of  the  Polar  Sea.  At  this  period  it 
feeds  upon  the  buds  of  the  purple  saxifrage  (.V(/.\7//(/;,(/  opl^osi- 
tijolia),  one  of  the  most  early  of  the  An  tie  plants. 

As  the  Snow  Hunting  sometimes  begins  to  vir^it  i'  I  nited 
States  in  October,  it  appears  pretty  certain  that  ^onic  of  these 
birds  breed  almost,  if  not  ([uite,  within  the  northern  liniii>  of 
the  I  nion  ;  and  as  statetl  elsewhere,  a  ne^5t  has  been  fountl 
near  the  rocky  summit  of  the  White  Mountains  of  New 
llaiupshire. 

The  Snow  nuutiiii;  is  usually  restricted  in  summer  to  the  higher 
latitudes,  —  Irum  Labrador  and  the  (ireat  Slave  Lake  n -Jon  to  the 
Arctic  Ocean,  —  but  an  occasional  tlock  is  seen  fartlui  .soiithwanl, 
and  nests  have  been  taken  in  *1ie  White  Mountains.  Tn  wini  >• 
these  birds  range  south  to  the  dd'.'  States,  occasionallv  j^oini^  as 
far  as  ••  (leorgia  and  Kansas."  iMi  .bers  spenrl  tin-  winter  in  New 
lirunswick,  gathering'  in  timk.  ■>?  twenty  to  tifty.  Thev  are  to  be 
seen  about  the  suburbs  of  St.  John  as  \\v\\  as  on  the  ni.ir^ins  of 
lakes  in  the  deep  forests. 

Mr.  A.  Hauerup.  who  ?aw  considerable  of  this  bird  when  in 
(ireenland,  writes  to  me  t  t  the  son^  is  a  sweet  and  pleasing 
melody,  though  rather  disconnected,  ''delivered  in  short  stanzas." 
"Warbling,"  he  adds,  "  is  perhaps  the  Ln^lish  word  liesl  suited  to 
describe  its  character." 


s\ 


'\   \ 


/'• 


^1 


■■^■"'■'■■,f>'i ,. 


^r^i>i;^\. 


LAPLAND    I.ONCISI'UR. 

CaIaAKIIS    I  AI'I'ONUUS, 

Char.  Above,  brownish  lilack.  the  featlicrs  edged  with  dull  buff, 
wing -feathers  witli  dull  b.iv ;  liead  and  throat  rich  black  (female  and 
young  have  the  crown  same  as  back)  :  line  from  eyes  and  down  side  of 
tiiro:il.  white;  band  of  bright  cliestiuit  across  hind-neck;  tail  with  patches 
of  white  on  outer  fiatiiers  ;  below,  dull  white,  breast  and  sides  marked 
with  black;  bill  yellow,  tijiped  with  bhu  k  ;  legs  and  feet  black.  Lengtli 
about  T)'/  inches. 

A'iSt.  In  swampv  moorlands,  amid  deep  moss  or  tuft  of  grass,  or  at 
the  base  of  a  mound  ;  composed  of  grass,  plant-stems,  roots,  and  moss, 
lined  with  feathers  or  deer's  hair. 

/•,';';^'-j.  4-7  ;  pale  grayish  brown  or  reddish  brown,  marked  with  dark 
brown  ;  o.So  X  0.60. 

This  species  generally  inhabits  the  desolate  Arctic  regions  of 
both  continents.  In  the  United  States  a  few  stragglers  from 
the  greater  body  show  themselves  in  winter  in  the  remote  and 


LAri.AXl)    T.ONCSI'IK. 


335 


/;« 


imscttlc(i  parts  of  Maine,  Mi<  hij^an,  and  the  Northwott-rn 
'Icrritorics.  Lari;o  flocks  also  at  tinu-s  rntcr  'the  TnicMi,  ajul 
contrary  to  their  usu.il  practice  of  resting  ami  living  wholly  on 
the  gronnd,  occasionally  alight  on  trees.  They  leave  the  colder 
Arctic  deserts  in  the  autumn,  and  are  founc'  arotnid  Ilmlson 
Hay  on  their  way  to  the  South  in  winter,  not  making  their 
appearance  there  before  November.  Near  Severn  Kiver  they 
haunt  the  cedar-trees,  upon  whose  berries  they  now  prin<  i 
pally  feed.  They /live  in  large  flocks,  and  are  so  gregarious 
that  when  separated-  from  their  own  species,  or  in  small  par- 
ties, they  usually,  in  luirope,  associate  with  the  common  Larks, 
or,  in  America,  they  join  the  roving  bands  of  Snow  liinls.  In 
the  fur  countries  they  extend  their  migrations  in  the  spring  as 
far  as  the  65th  parallel,  where  they  were  seen  about  I'ort 
l""ranklin  by  the  beginning  of  May  ;  at  this  time  the)'  fed  mu(  h 
upon  the  seeds  of  the  Alpine  arbutus.  They  feed  princii)ally 
on  seeds,  and  also  on  grass,  leaves,  buds,  and  insects.  They 
breed  on  small  hillocks,  among  moss  and  stone>,  in  o\>vi\ 
marshy  fields,  and  the  nest  is  thickly  and  loosely  constructed 
of  moss  and  grass,  and  lined  with  a  few  feathers  and  deer's 
hair.  The  I.ongsjnir,  like  the  I. ark,  sings  only  as  it  rises  in 
the  air,  in  which,  suspended  aloft,  it  utters  a  few  agreeable  and 
melodious  notes. 


dull  buff, 
•cinale  and 
Iwn  side  <>f 
itli  patches 
lies  marked 
|k.     Ixngth 

Igrass,  or  at 
and  moss, 

ll  with  dark 


Iregions  of 
klers  from 
mote  and 


'I"lu'  I.ongspur  occurs  in  winter  in  South  Carolina,  Kentucky, 
aiul  Kansas,  though  it  is  not  common  south  of  alxuit  40^. 

Of  its  song  Mr.  Hagerup  writes  to  me:  "It  sounds  best  when 
the  bird,  after  mounting  up  in  the  sky,  drops  slowly  to  the  earth 
with  extended  wings.  Tlie  song  is  not  very  lon<;.  but  has  a  sweet, 
riute-Iike  tone,  and  though  tlie  melodv  is  attractive,  it  is  almost  mel- 
ancholy in  its  wikl  plaintiveness,  —  as.  indeed,  all  tiie  notes  of  this 
species  are." 

NoTii. — The  CHi:sTNt'T-coLi.AREn  LoxfJsi'i'K  {Ca/c-iuius  or- 
H(jtus)  has  been  taken  in  Massachusetts  and  Long  Island. 

.Smith's  LoNdSPUit  {Calcan'us  pictusX  which  occurs  in  the  in- 
terior, —  breeding 
Ocean,  —  is  found, 


from  the  Great  Slave  Lake  district  to  the  Arctic 
in  winter,  in  Illinois. 


VOL.    I. 


20 


w 


1 


7BP2 


9 


M 


{U 


u-' 


e 


■>':'?^'^;;H 


•7W 


'fl 

I  ; 

!   i 


s(\\rt,i:t  taxag er. 

PiRANOA    ERYTFIROMF.LAS. 

Char.  Male:  scarlet,  with  black  wings  ami  tail.  Male  in  wintir: 
similar  'o  female,  but  wilii  bl.iek  wings  and  tail.  Female  and  young; 
above,  olive  ;  wings  and  tail  dusky,  the  feathers  edged  witli  olive  ;  below, 
greenish  yellow.     Length  7  to  7'_.  inches. 

A'l'sf.  In  a  woodland  grove,  sometimes  in  an  orchard,  placed  near  the 
extrenuty  of  a  horizontal  limb  10  to  20  feet  from  the  grouml ;  compo.^Lcl 
of  twigs,  roots,  or  shreds  of  bark,  and  lined  with  routs,  sometimes  with 
pine-needles. 

■'-^iV-f-  3~5  (usually  4) ;  dull  white  or  with  blue  tinge,  thickly  marked, 
with  several  shades  of  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.95  X  0.65. 

This  splendid  and  transient  resident,  accompanying  fine 
weather  in  all  his  wanderings,  arrives  from  his  winter  station  in 
trojiical  .America  from  the  beginning  to  the  middle  of  INTay, 
and  extends  his  migrations  probably  to  Nova  Scotia  as  well  as 
Canada.  With  the  shy.  tmsocial,  and  suspicious  habits  of  his 
gaudy  fraternity,  he  takes  up  Iu.t  abode  in  the  deepest  recess 


fWN 


H 


SCAKI.F/r  TANA(ii:K. 


307 


in  winter : 

unci  young- 

llivc  ;  below, 

Iced  ne.ir  the 

;  conipoM-'d 

lictimes  with 

|:kly  marked, 

[nying    fine 

station  in 

|o  of  May, 

as  well  a<5 
[hits  of  his 
Dcst  recess 


of  the  forest,  where,  timidly  flitting'  from  ob>er\Mtion,  he  d.irts 
from  tree  to  tree  like  a  lla^hiiii;  meteor.  A  gaiuly  sylph,  con- 
scious of  his  brilliance  antl  the  exposure  to  \vhi<  l»  it  subjects 
hiin,  he  seems  to  avoid  remark,  ami  ir>  only  solicitous  to  Ik* 
knt)\vn  to  his  humbK-  mue,  and  hid  from  all  K^iilcs.  He 
therefore  rarely  approaches  the  habitations  of  men,  unless 
perhaps  the  skirts  o\'  the  orchard,  where  he  sometimes,  how- 
ever, builds  his  nest,  and  takes  a  taste  of  the  early  and  invitinj^, 
tlu)Ugh  forbidden,  cherries. 

Among  the  thick  foliage  of  the  tree  in  which  ho  seeks  stip- 
port  and  shelter,  from  the  lofty  branches,  at  times  we  hear  his 
almost  monotonous  A////>  ((•i/rr,  tsliif^-hitt ,  or  fshukih/t't',  />/;//- 
kiii/tt-  rei)e.ited  at  short  intervals  and  in  a  pensive  umlertone, 
heightened  by  the  solitude  m  which  he  delights  to  dwell.    The 
same  note  is  also  uttered   by  the  female  when  the  retreat  of 
herself  and  young  is  approached  ;  and  the  male  occasionally 
utters   in    recognition    to   his   mate,   as  they   perambulate  the 
branches,  a  low  whispering  'A/// in  a  tone  of  caution  and  ten«ler- 
ness.     But  besides  these  calls  on  the  female,  he  has  also  dur- 
ing the  period  of  incubation,  and  tor  a  considerable  time  after, 
a  more  musical  strain,  resembling  somewhat  in  the  mellowness 
of  its   tones  the   song  of  the  fifmg   Baltimore.     The  syllables 
to  whiih   I   have   hearkened  appear  like   Ws/wcrr  'wiiif  ';»•</// 
^'I't'ho'ii'it  wait,  and  ^li'ait  ^I'chd-u'il  vca  i^'uif,  with  other  atldi- 
tions   of  harmony   for   which   no   words   are    adecjuate.     This 
pleasing  and  highly  musical  meandering  ditty  is  delivered  for 
hours,   in  a   contemplative   inood,   in   the  same  tree  with  his 
busy  consort.      If  surjiriscd.  they  flit  together,  but  soon  return 
to  their  favorite  station  in  the  spreading  boughs  of  the  shady 
oak  or  hickory.     The   song  resembles  that  of  the   Red-eyetl 
\'ireo  in  its  compass  and   strain,   tlioiigh  nuu  h  superior,   the 
'7i'(///  icaif  being  whistled  very  sweetly   in  several  tones  and 
with  emphasis,  so  that  upon  the  whole,  our  Piiiini^a  may  l>e 
considered  as  duly  entitled  to  various  excellence-,  being  harmless 
to  the  farmer,  brilliant  in  plumage,  and  harmonious  in  voice. 

These  birds  only  sojourn   long  enough  to   rear  their  single 
brood,  which  are  here  fledged  early  in  July,  le     ing  us  already 


I 


I 


t 


;o8 


SINCiINC;    lURDS. 


't      .)]■ 


for  the  South  about  the  middle-  or  (lose  of  Aupi^t.  or  as  soon 
as  the  young  arc  well  able  to  endure  liie  fatigue  of  an  extensi\e 
migration  in  company  with  their  parents.  The  female  ;»hows 
great  solicitude  for  the  safet\  of  her  only  bnxMJ,  and  on  an 
api)roa(  h  to  the  nest  ai)pears  to  l)e  in  great  disire-s  and  aj)pre- 
hension.  \\  hen  they  are  released  from  her  more  immediate 
protection,  the  male,  at  fust  cautious  and  distant,  nuw  attends 
and  feeds  them  with  a(  li\it\.  being  altogether  indiUerent  to 
th.'.t  concealment  which  his  gaud\  dress  seem>  to  retjuire  from 
his  natural  enemies.  So  attached  to  his  now  interesting  brood 
is  the  Scarlet  'i'anager  that  he  has  been  known,  at  all  ha/.ards, 
to  follow  for  half  a  mile  one  of  his  young,  submitting  to  Wi-d 
it  attentively  throimh  the  bars  of  a  cage,  and,  with  a  devotion 
which  despair  couM  not  damj),  roost  by  in  the  branche>  <»f  the 
same  tree  with  its  jtrison  ;  so  strong,  indeed,  is  thi->  innate  and 
heroic  feeling  that  lifi'  itself  is  le.>>  cherisheii  than  the  de;>ire 
of  aiding  and  supporting  his  endearing  ])rogeny  (Wilson). 

'Ihe  food  of  the  Scarlet  'I'anager  while  with  u^  consists 
chielly  of  winged  insects,  wasps,  hornets,  and  wiKl  bees,  as? 
Weil  as  smaller  kinds  of  beetles  and  other  shelly  tribes  ;  it 
probably  al^o  sometimes  feeds  on  see<ls,  ami  i>  jtarticularly 
partial  to  whortleberries  and  other  kinds  which  the  season 
affords. 

About  the  beginning  of  August  the  male  begins  to  moult, 
anil  then  exchanges  his  uu|)tial  scarlet  for  the  greenish  livery 
of  the  female.  At  this  period  these  birds  le.sve  us;  ami  ha\ing 
])assed  the  winter  in  the  celibacy  indicated  by  this  humble 
garb,  they  arrive  again  among  ii.-.  on  its  vernal  renewal,  and 
so  >iOon  after  this  change  that  individuals  are  at  this  time  occa- 
sionally seen  with  the  speckled  livery  of  early  autunn),  or  with 
a  confuted  mixture  of  green  an!  scarlet  feathers  in  scattered 
l)atches. 

The  Scarlet  Tanager  is  common  tlirouiihoiit  this  Eastern  Prov- 
ince north  to  about  latitude  44',  and  occurs  sjjarinijly  along  the 
Ai,aiaj)olis  valley,  in  Nova  Scotia  and  alontr  the  \ alley  of  the  .St. 
John  in  New  liruiiswii  k,  also  near  the  city  of  Quebec  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  Lake  Winnipeg  It  breeds  from  \irginia  norliiwaul 
and  winters  in  northern  South  .Vinerica. 


s  soon 
;cnsive 
shows 
on  an 
ai)i>rt'- 
ncdiale 
.uunils 
nni   to 
re-  troni 
U  briiod 
ha/.iinl>. 
lo  iVcd 
levotion 

naiL-  a  IV I 
ic  (Ichiro 

jn). 
lonsisls 

brcs.  aif 

ribcs  ;    it 

rtuularly 

ic   season 

,)  vnoiilt, 

i,h  livery 

1(1  havin;^ 

,  hmnlile 

■wal.   ami 

luc  (><"«a- 

n,  or  with 

scatiorcil 


icrn  I'rov- 
alonu  the 
I  of  the  St. 
land  in  the 
lnoriii\\'"'i 


SUMMER    lANAllER.  309 

SUMM1:R     lANACiKR. 

su.m.mi;k  ki.1)-i;ikd. 

I'lkANt.A    kli;ka. 

Char.  Male:  ricli  vermilion,  duller  above.  Female  and  young: 
above,  dull  ulivc  ;  below,  thill  bull.     Length  about  7)3  inche.-'. 

iWy/.  On  the  edge  ol  an  open  grove  or  by  a  roadMilu,  placed  near 
the  extremity  ot  a  horiiiontal  limb,  eonipo>(.d  ol  grass,  leaves,  ami  vcgc- 
tabie  tibre,  lined  vviih  gras.-^. 

>'-v^•>■•  3"4  ;  bright  green,  sometimes  with  a  tinge  ot  bine,  >potted. 
chiefly  near  the  larger  end,  with  various  .-shades  ot  brown  and  purple  ; 
0.95  X  0.65. 

This  brilliant  and  transient  resident,  hkc  the  fanner  spc'(  ies, 
passes  the  greatest  p.irt  tif  the  year  in  Uoiik  il  .\nieri(;i,  whence 
in  his  gaudy  nnjjtiai  suit  he  presents  hiniseU'  with  his  hiiinlde 
mate  in  tlie  Sotitiiern  Stales  in  the  latter  end  ot"  April  or  by 
the  1st  of  May.  In  I'e!uis\i\ania  tlu->e  birds  .ire  but  rarely 
seen,  though  in  the  warm  and  sand)'  liartvn  forests  of  New- 
Jersey  several  pairs  may  usually  be  observed  in  the  . ourse  of 
every  season  ;  farther  north  they  are  imknown.  <  eding  those 
regions  aiijjarently  to  the  scarlet  species.  'Ihey  are  not  con- 
fined to  any  jKirticular  soil,  though  often  imi  with  in  bf.shy, 
barren  tracts,  and  are  conse(|uently  ( ommon  e\en  to  the  west 
of  the  Mississijipi,  in  I,(»uisiana  and  the  Ti'rritury  of  Arkansas, 
as  well  as  Mexico  ;  they  also  brei'd  near  ihi'  banks  of  that 
river  arotm<l  Natchez. 

The  nest  is  built  in  the  woods  on  the  low,  horizontal  branch 
of  a  tree,  often  in  an  evergreen  10  or  \2  (cvi  from  the  ground. 
Both  parents  assist  in  incubation,  and  the  yoimg  are  Hedged 
by  the  middle  or  latter  end  of  Juiu".  They  only  raise  a  single 
brood  in  the  season,  and  towards  the  middle  or  close  of 
.\ngnst  the  whole  party  disaj)pear  on  their  way  to  the  South, 
though  the  young  remain  later  than  the  old  and  more  restless 
birds. 

The  note  of  the  male,  like  that  of  the  I'altimore  Bird,  is  said 
to  be  a  strong  and  sonorous  whistle,  resembling  the  trill  or 


(1 


ill 


I 


310 


SLNGIXG    JIIKDS. 


r 


III 


musical  shake  on  the  file,  and  is  fre(iuently  repeated.  The 
note  of  the  female  is  a  chattering,  and  appears  ahnost  like  the 
rapid  pronunciation  of  tshicky-Uikhy-fiik,  tshicky-it(kk\-tiih,  and 
is  chielly  uttere<l  in  alarm  when  any  |)erson  approaches  the 
vicinity  of  her  nest.  l''roin  the  similarity  of  her  color  to  the 
foliage  of  the  trees,  she  is,  however,  rarely  seen,  and  is  usually 
unite  ;  while  the  lociuacity  and  l-rilliance  of  the  male  render 
him.  as  he  Hits  timidly  and  wildl\-  through  tlie  branches,  a  mcjst 
distinguished  and  beautihil  object. 

The  food  (jf  the  Sunnner  Red  IJird  is  ver\-  similar  to  that  of 
the  ;  receding  species  ;  bugs,  beetles,  and  stinging  bees  make 
part  of  his  repa.-t,  as  well  as  flies  and  (•ynii)s  of  \arious  kinds, 
after  which  he  often  darts  about  until  hindered  bv  the  ap- 
])n)ach  of  night.  i'he  late  suppers  are  probabh  necessarv, 
from  the  aliiio^t  nocturnal  habits  t)f  some  i)f  these  in^'ct 
tribes.  .After  the  period  of  in(  ubation,  antl  until  their  depar- 
ture, whortleberries  and  other  kinds  of  berries  form  no  incon- 
siderable |)art  of  the  food  of  the^e  birds. 

Tliis  spci  ics  (loi's  not  occur  rciiularly  nortli  of  New  Jersrv, 
southern  ( )nio.  and  .southern  lUinois.  Occasionally  stragi;lers  are 
found  in  Connecticut  and  Massacliu.setts,  and  two  examples  liave 
bcin  taken  in  New  Hrunswii  k.  one  in  Nov,.  .Scotia,  four  near 
IMoiUreal.  and  one  at   Ilaniilton.   Ont.uio. 

.\oTE.  —  .Specimens  of  tlie  LoLisi.vx.v  T.\nac;i:i<  {Piiaii^ii 
ludoviciatia)-  a  Western  species  -  have  been  taken  in  New  York. 
Connecticut,  Massachusetts,  and  .Maine. 


\\ 


^\ 


IN D Kin  r.rxriNG. 

P.ASSI.RIXA    CVANi:.\. 

Char.  Male:  indij^o  blue,  intense  on  he.id  and  throat,  otlior  parts 
tinged  with  green  ;  hlaek  l)ar  from  hill  to  eyes  ;  \vi^g^.  and  tail  brown,  the 
edge  of  feathers  tinged  with  l)lue.  l-'emale  :  above,  brown  ;  below,  nnich 
paler,  with  dark  strcak.s.     Length  about  5'^  inches.  ' 

A't'st.  On  the  margin  of  a  meadow  or  conntrv  road,  or  in  an  orchard 
or  garden,  in  a  busli  or  low  tree,  placed  in  an  upright  crotch  ;  a  rather 


'Iho 
ike  the 
tk,  and 
lu's  the 
to  the 
usually 
rentier 
,  a  niu-^l 

)  that  of 
■s  make 
IS  kinils, 
the  a|>- 
jcessary, 
;e  insect 
r  (h'par- 
u)  uieon- 


,v  Jersi'V, 
^Icrs  ;irc 
Irs  luivc 
ur   near 


c\v  York. 


jvhiT  parts 
Ihrown,  tlic 
I'lDW,  much 

liii  oriliard 
;i  r;Ul>er 


IXDKIO    r.lNTINr.. 


3" 


tluinsv  and  bulky  aff.iir  of  twij^s,  stems,  grass,  etc.,  lined  witli  fine  grass, 
etc.,  sometimes  with  horse-liair. 

E^^s.  4-5;  white,  soMietinio  with  blue  or  green  tint,  occasionally  with 
a  few  fir.  :  spots  of  purpli>li  brown;  0.75  X  O.55. 

'This  very  beautiful  and  rather  familiar  nicssengcr  of  suinnur, 
after  passing  the  winter  in  tro|)i(al  Anieriea,  towards  the  15th 
of  May,  decked  in  his  brilliant  a/ure  livery  of  the  nu|)tial  sea- 
son, again  joyfully  visits  his  natal  regions  in  the  Middle  Slates; 
and  about  a  week  or  ti'U  days  later  his  h\cl\-  trill  in  tiie  garden, 
orchard,  or  on  the  top  of  the  house,  its  <  hiuuie\.  or  \,inr,  is 
first  heard  in  this  part  of  New  Kngland.  Still  lati-r.  ac  (  ouipa- 
nied  by  his  mate,  he  passes  on  to  Nova  Scotia,  and  probiblv  to 
the  i)recincts  of  Labrador.  After  raising  and  training  their 
only  brood  in  a  unifonn  and  more  iunnble  dre--s.  the  whole 
family,  in  color  like  so  many  commo)i  Sparrows,  begin  to 
retire  to  the  Somh  from  the  lirst  to  the  middle  of  September. 
They  are  also  known  in  Mi-xico,  when-,  as  wtll  .is  in  the 
.South.ern  States  to  the  peninsula  of  l-'Iorida,  tluv  bretd  and 
pass  the  summiT  as  with  us.  ThiTt-  is  rea-M^n.  liowi'\er.  to 
belie\e  that  they  are  less  abundant,  if  seen  it  all.  to  the  west 
of  the  Mississippi;  but  yet  they  are  met  uiih  in  the  W'eMern 
States  uj)  to  tlu'  alluvial  lands  of  that  great  natural  bouivlary. 

'I'heir  foo<l  in  the  early  ])art  of  the  season,  as  well  as  that  of 
their  young  for  a  considerable  time,  is  (  hieily  insects,  worms, 
and  caterpillars,  as  well  as  grasshopi)ers,  of  whi(  h  thi'y  are 
jtartictilarly  fond.  They  likewise  cat  seetls  of  various  kimls, 
and  are  readily  reared  in  a  cage  on  the  Usual  diet  of  the 
(  anary. 

'I'hough  nattnally  shy,  active,  and  stispicious,  partictilarl\-  the 
brilliant  male,  they  still  at  this  interesting  period  of  procn-a- 
tion  resort  chietly  to  the  precincts  of  habitatit)ns,  around  which 
they  are  f:ir  more  {M)mmon  than  in  the  solitary  woods,  seeking 
their  borders  or  the  thii  kets  by  the  si<les  of  the  road  ;  but 
their  favorite  resort  is  the  garden,  where,  from  the  topmt)st 
b(jugh  of  some  tall  trei'  which  commands  the  whole  wide  land- 
scape, the  male  regularly  pours  out  his  lively  chant,  and  <  on- 
tinues  it  for  a  considerabK'   leiiL'th  of  time.      Nor  is  this  song 


m 


iW! 


SLNGINO    niKI>S. 


»|i 


confined  to  the  cool  and  animating'"  down  of  mofMi'ng,  but  it 
is  renewed  and  still  more  vi^^orous  diirirjg  tiie  noon- day  heat 
of  summer.  This  lively  strain  seems  composed  of  a  repeti- 
tion of  short  notes  ;  commenc  ing  loud  and  rai)id,  and  then, 
slowly  falling,  they  descend  almost  to  a  whisper,  succeeded  by 
a  silent  interval  of  about  half  a  minute,  when  the  song  is  agai. 
continued  as  bt  Ium'.  'I'hc  most  common  of  these  vocal  expres- 
sions sounds  like  s/ir  tslw  tshc  —  tshc  fs/irt'  tslu'r  —  tsht'  (she 
tshf.  Thf  mitldle  syllables  are  utteretl  lispingly,  in  a  very 
pi(  uliar  manner,  and  the  three  last  gradually  fall ;  sometimes 
the  song  is  varied  and  shortened  into  (slua  tshra  ishca  /s/ur/i, 
the  last  sound  being  sometimes  doubled.  This  shorter  song 
is  Usually  uttered  at  tlie  timi'  :hat  the  female  is  engaged  in 
the  cares  of  incubation,  or  as  the  brood  alread\'  appi-ar,  and 
wiien  too  great  a  (lis])lay  of  music  might  endanger  the  relirmg 
se(  uritN'  of  the  fimih'.  l"ro)u  a  young  or  imperfectly  moulted 
male,  on  the  suuuuit  of  a  weping-willow,  I  IvMid  the  following 
singularly  li\il\  s\ll,ibK's.  V/r  '//r  ' //<■  (a  l,r.  repeated  at  short 
i!iter\'al->.  While  thus  ])roniiiunilv  I'xpwsed  to  \iew,  the  little 
airy  minstrel  is  continually  on  the  watch  against  any  surprise, 
and  if  he  be  steadily  looked  at  or  hearkened  to  with  visible 
attention,  in  the  next  instant  he  is  off  to  se-.  k  out  some  secmer 
elevation.  In  the  village  of  Cambridge  1  have  seen  one  of 
these  a/ure,  almost  celestial  musicians,  regularly  chant  to  the 
inmates  of  a  tall  dwliing-house  from  the  smnmit  of  the  chim- 
ney or  the  poin  (f  the  fijrked  iightninf-rod.  1  have  also 
heard  a  ("anary,  wii.iin  hearing,  rejx'at  and  imitate  the  slowly 
lisping  trill  of  the  Imligo  bird,  whose  warble  indeeil  often 
greatly  resembles  that  of  this  species.  The  female,  before 
hatching  her  brood,  is  but  seldom  seen,  and  is  then  scarcely 
distinguishable  from  a  couunon  Sparrow  ;  nor  is  she  ever  to  be 
observed  beyond  the  humble  bushes  and  weeds  in  which  she 
commonly  resides. 

'I'he  nest  of  our  bird  is  usually  built  in  a  low  bush  partly  con- 
ccaleil  by  rank  grass  or  grain  ;  at  times  in  the  forks  of  a  young 
orchard  tree  lo  or  12  feet  from  the  ground.  I  have  also  seen 
one  suspended  in  a  complicated  manner  in  a  tri'llised  grape- 


INDK.U    I!!'NTl.\v;. 


but  it 
y  heat 
rcpcti- 
ihcn, 
led  by 
i  ai^ui.. 
■xpres- 
//('  hhe 
a  very 
letimes 
I  shirk, 
•r  si)n.u; 
igcd  in 
■ar,  and 
retirin.u 
Aionltcd 
)lio\vinij; 
It  short 
In-  little 
kurprise, 
1  visible 
securer 
one  of 
to  the 
chini- 
vc   also 
slowly 
d  (ifien 
belore 
scarcely 
iT  to  be 
lich  she 


vino.  If  left  indisturbed,  they  often  I  nid  in  the  sui'-.e  garden 
or  orchard  fur  several  successive  years.  When  in  a  bush,  dvj 
nest  is  suspended  betwixt  two  twigs,  passing  u|)  on  eitn-r  mI*  . 
Ivxternally  it  is  composed  of  coarse  sedge-grass,  some  v;  ..  r'.'d 
leaves,  and  lined  with  fine  stalks  of  the  same,  and  the  nd.er 
hairdike  tops  of  the  bent-grass  {^Ai^rostis),  with  a  ver>  fe»v 
cow-hairs  ;  though  sometimes  they  make  a  substantial  hning  of 
hair.  The  nest  whic  h  I  saw  in  the  vine  was  com|)osed  out- 
wardly of  coarse  strips  of  bass-mat,  weeds,  and  some  strings 
picked  up  in  the  garden,  and  lined  with  horse-hair  and  a  few 
tojts  of  bent-grass.  The  yoimg  here  scan  ely  leave  the  nest 
before  the  end  of  July  or  the  first  week  in  Augu-i,  and  they 
raise  usually  but  a  single  brood  in  the  season.  I  hey  appear 
to  show  great  timidity  about  their  nest,  and  ofp  u  readily  i'or- 
sake  it  when  touched,  or  \\\\c\\  an  egir  i  >  abstracted.  Their 
usual  note  of  alarm  when  th(  in->t'lves  or  their  X'.ung  are 
approached  is  a  ^harj)  A////,  (piicklv  ■\\v\  anviou^ly  rejje  ited, 
resembling  almost  the  striking  of  two  pibbles.  'i'h.ey  will  not 
forsake  their  young,  howescr  ready  they  mas  be  to  relimiui.ih 
thi-ir  eggs  ;  and  they  have  been  known  to  fi'ed  their  brood 
verv  faithf-.illv  throuLjh  the  bars  of  a  caue  in  whi(  h  tlu v  we  re 
confined. 

This  species  is  a  common  summer  resident  frop-  '^outh  C-'olina 
to  western  Maine  and  tlu:  city  of  (.Hiehce,  and  w---' vard '.'U'oiigh 
Ontario  and  Illinois  to  tiie  Great  Plains.  It  also  -  ,  urs  Oi.easion 
allv  in  eastern  Maine  ami  the  Maritime  Province  . 


N'oTK.  —  One  examjile  of  the  \'.\kiio  Hintin';  {'^'isseriiia 
".•ersicdlor)  has  i)een  captured  in  southern  Mi(  hi-aii.  ii.s  usual 
habitat  is  the  vallev  of  the  Rio  diande  and  Lower  California. 


rlly  con- 

a  young 

ilso  seen 

•d  grai)e- 


314 


SINGING   HIRIJS. 


'[ 


i\ 


ti' 


11: 


,,.! 
j:^ 


PAINTKl)    I5UXTL\G. 

NOM'AKKIL. 
P.ASSKUINA    Clkl.S, 

Char.  Male:  head  and  neck  blue;  eyelids  red;  back  yellowish 
green  ;  rinnp  red;  wiiii^s  dusky,  gldsscd  witli  green;  tail  purplish  brown; 
below,  \erniiliiin.  J'eniale  :  above,  olive;  below,  buff;  wings  and  tail 
dusky  edged  with  olive.     Length  5_J4  inches. 

.\''.r/.  In  a  thicket  of  low  bushes;  (ninpactiv  made  of  twigs,  roots, 
shreds  of  bark  and  gr.iss,  lined  witii  tine  gra»  or  horse-hair,  or  tine  roots. 

/i^X''-  4~5  •  ''""  wiiiic,  or  wiili  bhie  tinl,  niaikul  chielly  aiuund  hirger 
end  willi  piir|)li->h  ami  reddish  luown  ;  o.So  X  o.'.iO. 

This  si)l(.'iKli(l,  gay,  and  docile  bird,  known  to  the  Anieri("ins 
as  the  Nonpareil,  and  to  the  l-'rcnch  l,oiiisi;uHans  as  the  J^ipe, 
inhabits  the  woods  of  the  low  countrii's  of  die  Southern  Sl;Ues, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  sea  and  alonj^^  llie  borders  of  the  larger 
ri\ers,  from  Nortii  C"iiri;lina  to  Mexito.  It  arrives  from  its 
tropiial  (jiiarters  in  l,ouisian;i  ;uid  (ieorgi;i  from  the  mitldlc 
\()  the  2oth  of  April  ;  but  imi);itient  of  cold,  retires  to  the 
South  c  irly  in  Oi  tobcr,  \\n\\  is  supposed  to  winter  about  Vera 
Cru/.  i'or  the  saLe  of  tiieir  song  ;is  well  as  be;iuty  of  plum- 
age, these  birds  are  conmionly  domesticated  in  the  ho^^^es  of 
till  IV'^nch  inh;d)it:uits  of  New  Orleans  ;ind  its  vicinity  ;  and 
some  have  succeeded  in  raising  them  in  <  ;ii)tivity,  where  plenty 
of  room  was  allowed  in  ;in  avi;iry.  Tluy  ;ire  familiar  also  in 
the  g;irdens  and  orchards,  where  their  w;ubling  notes  are  al- 
most perpetually  luanl  throughout  the  summer.  'Their  song 
much  resembles  th;ii  of  the  Indigo  Hird,  but  their  voice  is 
more  feeble  ;ini|  coik  isc.  Soon  reconciled  to  the  cage,  they 
will  sing  even  ;i  few  da\s  ;ifter  being  c;uight.  Their  food  con- 
sists of  rice,  insects,  ;tn<l  \arious  kinds  of  seeds  ;  thev  collect 
alstj  the  grains  of  the  ripe  figs.  ;md.  tre(|uent!ng  gardens,  build 
often  within  ;i  few  p;u:es  of  the  house,  being  particularly 
attached   to  the   orangeries. 

Their  nests  are  usuallv  made  in  the  hedges  of  the  orange,  or 
on  the  lower  bram  he>  of  the  siime  trt'c.  likewise  o<:casionally 
in  a  bramble  or  thorny  bush.      In  the  mildest  climates  in  which 


will  I  i;-cRt->\vM:i)  >rARR<>\v 


5'5 


yeilf)\vish 

li  l)i")\\n  : 

and  tail 

4s,  rotjts, 
iiie  roots, 
nil  larger 


thov  ]xiss  tlic  suimncr,  tlu-y  raisi-  two  bnxuls  in  the  season. 
'I'lu'V  are  roninionly  caught  in  trap-cages,  U)  whu  h  ihey  are 
sonietiiues  allured  by  a  >tull"e(l  Mnl,  \vlu<  h  they  descend  to 
attack  ;  and  they  liave  been  known  to  survive  in  domestica- 
tion  for  upwards  of  ten   years. 

This  species  is  conimon  in  tiu-  South  Atlantic  and  <  iulf  St.Ttes, 
ami  has  been  taken  north  to  southern  Illinois  and  North  Carolina. 


Nmi:. — 'ihe  (iRASScu  11  {i'.Kttkcia  hiio/op)  and  the  .Mi:lo- 
1)1(11  s  ('.KAssiU  IT  { Iltu't/ititi  ciiiiura)  —  hotli  West  India  birds — 
have  been  taken  in  southern  Florid.i,  ihouLrh  thev  arc  nierclv 
accidental   wanderers   there. 


nencans 
le  /'//i-, 
1  States, 
e  lir|::er 
from  Its 
middle 
s  to  the 
Hit  Vera 
)f  plum- 
ou^es  t»f 
tv  ;  and 
l)lenty 
also  in 
are  al- 
eir  song 
voice  is 
ge.  they 
od  con- 
V  collect 
ns,  bi'ild 
ticnlarly 

ange.  (^r 
asionally 
in  which 


wnrrr.-CRowM-.i)  spm^irow. 

/t)M>i  ki(  111  \   II  i(  ()i'iikN>, 

Tir AU.  U]i]ior  part-"  ^rnvisli  binwn.  -treakeil  uitli  dull  l>,iv,  and  ])ale 
ash  ;  crown  wliite.  hordered  hv  han(!>  of  hi  n  k  :  lines  of  black  and  white 
from  evrs  to  iund  neck;  \viiiu<  willi  two  wliile  l):irs:  tail  dii^kv  ;  below, 
grav.  whitening  on  ♦.hroai  aiul  belly  ;  llanks  sliadcil  with  brown.  Length 
about  7  inches. 

Xrsf.  In  an  open  woodland,  on  the  ground  or  in  a  low  bii>h, — 
usually  coii(:eali.fl  in  Lirass  at  the  fool  of  a  bu^h  ;  lirndv  made  oi  di  ied 
grass  lined  with  tine  grass, — somitin)^^  wiiii  d.eer's  hair  or  fcatiicrs.  or 
roots. 

/•,';';''.r.  4-6;  greenish  while  or  bUiisli  wliite  thickly  spotted  with  red- 
dish brown;  0.90  X  o<>v 

'I'his  rare  and  h mdsome  s]tc(  ies  is  \i'rv  little  known  in  anv 
jiail  of  the  I'nited  States,  a  h  \v  stragglers  only  l)eing  set-n 
about  the  beginning  of  winter,  and  again  in  May  or  e.irlier,  on 
their  way  back  to  their  Northern  breeding-places,  in  the  fur 
countries  and  round  Hudson's  '.ay,  whi(  h  they  visit  from  the 
South  in  May,  and  construct  their  nests  in  June  in  the  vkinity 
of  Albany  I'ort  and  Severn  Rivi'r.  These  are  fixed  on  the 
group.d,  or  near  it,  in  the  shelter  oi  the  willow-trees  which 
they  glean,  jirob.ibly  with  many  other  bird^.  for  the  insects 
which  frecpient  them. 


I  ^""■"■Sa^lggjggigg; 


Si 


If 


'imm 


316 


SIN(ilMi    KIKUS. 


At  this  season  the  male  sings  in  a  loud,  clear,  musical,  but 
rather  plaintive  tone,  the  song  consisting  of  six  or  seven  notes; 
these  he  rejjeats  at  short  intervals  during  the  whole  day.  On 
the  ij5th  of  April,  i>S,?5,  1  saw  llcjcks  of  this  species  among 
the  thickets  in  the  \i(  inity  of  Santa  Barbara,  L'pper  C'alilornia. 
They  sung  with  a  teehle,  (juaiiU  note,  to  me  unlike  that  of  any 
oth<.'r  sjjecies,  and  almost  similar  to  s(juk'  of  the  notes  of  the 
Cliickadee.  As  they  depart  from  Hudson  liay  in  September, 
it  is  |)robable  that  they  |»rincipally  winter  in  the  Canadian 
provinces,  otherwise,  as  passengers  farther  south,  they  would 
bi'  seen  more  abimdantl)  in  tlu'  I'niled  States  than  they  are. 
Indeed,  as  they  aj)pfoa(  h  this  part  of  New  l-jigland  only  in 
small  desultory  parties  in  the  winter,  as  in  November  and 
Di'cember.  it  is  I'vidrnt  that  they  only  migrate  a  short  (li>tance 
in  iiuest  of  food,  and  return  to  the  North  at  the  approach  of 
line  weather.  \\  hile  here  they  a])pear  silent  and  solitary,  and 
are  not  difti(  nit  to  approai  h.  'I'heii-  food,  as  usual,  is  seeds  of 
grasses,  insects,  and  their  l:ir\:v. 

Tills  species  is  not  so  rare  in  our  day  as  Nuttall  evidciuly  con- 
sidered it.  for  it  now  oet  ur.s  (luitc  regularly  llinnighout  this  l^astcrii 
Province,  lliough  likely  to  appear  in  irregular  lumibers  at  any  given 
loiality.  It  breeds  in  northern  .Maine  and  Xcw  I'.runswick.  and 
norlii  to  sub-arctic  rcLiions.  Xests  have  been  found  also  in  \'cr- 
niont  and  New  \'ork.  The  birds  are  met  with  in  winter  from 
soutliern  New  England  southward  to  Mexico. 


in    .  •( 


!  i!:^ 


>ical,  but 
II  noU's  ; 
lay.  On 
s  anion^' 
alilornia. 
It  of  any 
's  ot  the 
plcmbcr, 
Janadiaii 
ey  would 
they  are. 
I  only  in 
ihtT   and 

(!i>lan((.' 
iroach  ot" 
lary.  and 

scc'iU  of 


.Miily  LDii 
i  Kastcni 
my  given 
ivick.  and 
o  in  \'cr- 
tcr   trom 


LARK    SI 'A  K  ROW. 

LARK.    riM  II. 

Ciu )Ni)i;si  r.s  ukammac  us. 

f'n.\R.  Al)(nc,  ^rayi-^li  olFvc  :  ihc  l)ai  k  Niown,  with  fine  ^trtak-i  of 
black;  tail  l)la(  k,  —  cxcLptiiij;  central  fcatiicr>,  —  ti|>jiL(l  uitli  uliitc,  "Hiui 
wcl)  of  iiiUci  |iair  ciitiicly  white;  crown  chestnut,  wiih  nudiaii  line  ol 
(hill  while;  line  over  tiie  eve  dull  while;  white  crescent  iimlei  the  eves 
linidcrcd  I)V  black,  and  l)i'hinv'  '  y  chestnnt  ;  below  white  tin^,ctl  with 
brown  ;  breast  with  patch  of  black,     l-en^^lh  6  to  (iK  inches. 

.\Vj/.  Usually  amid  a  tutl  of  ;.;rass,  but  sometimes  in  a  tree  or  bn-li; 
composetl  of  j;rass  and  vegetable  fibre. 

/',\%o-.  3-5  (Usually  })  ;  white  or  with  Mni'  or  buff  lint,  ni.uked  wilh 
spots  and  lines  of  dark  brown  or  black  ;  0.S5  X  0.^)5. 

for  this  s])c-cics  wo  ;ire  atf;iiii  iiKhhtcd  to  Mr.  Sav.  who  ob- 
served it  in  abundance  near  the  Cotmcil  I'hilTs  and  tht-  m-i^h- 
boriiiff  coimtry  of  the  Missouri  in  thi'  s])rinLr.  as  well  ;ts  in  the 
nn)nth  of  June.  \-  jiijprars  to  In-  wJiolK  confined  to  the  west 
side  of  the  .Mississippi,  ;ind  ])rob,d)lv  cvicnds  ii\to  Mexico. 
These  birds  frecpient  the  prairie  Ljroiinds,  ;tnd  seldom  if  evi-r 
alijfht  on  trees;  they  sin<j  sweetly,  and,  like  the  I, arks.  h;ive 
the  habit  of  continuing  their  notes  while  on  the  wing. 

Mr.  Townsend  observes  ;  "'I'his  si)eeit  s  inhabits  several  hun- 
dred miles  of  the  I'lattc  plains  in  ure;U  nutnbi'rs,  as  well  as  the 
banks  of  the  ('olunibia  River.  It  generally  affects  th<'  low 
bushes  of  wormwood   {A r/i misi'd),  (rom  the  summit  of  which 


318 


SINGINC;    lilUDS. 


f    li 


it  pours  forth  a  variety  of  pretty  notes."  At  the  comnv^nre- 
MRDt  of  the  pairing  season  the  males  arc  \ery  piigii.itioiis, 
ii^hliii;;  often  on  wing,  and  the  contiuering  rival,  repairing  to 
the  nearest  bush,  ttnus  his  lively  pipe  in  token  of  su( cess. 

The  Lark  I'iiuli  is  conimDn  aioiig  tlie  Mississippi  vallt  \  iiortli  to 
Jowa  and  soutliLTii  Miiliigaii.  It  has  hucii  taken  oeeasiunally  in 
Manitoba  and  in  Ontario,  and  a  liw  examples  ha  •  appeared  in 
New  Kngland.  and  soutliward  along  the  Atlantic  coa.  .  io  Morida. 

It  is  said  to  ri'seni!)Ie  tlu-  (iriss  F'"inch  in  general  lia'/its,  and  its 
song  is  soniewh;,!  similar. 


]i 


1 


wn rn:  ruRoArKD  .si>arrow. 

rEAIJODV    I'.IKD  — OLD   TOM    l'EAIK)DY. 
ZONOTRK  lllA    .\I.l;l(  OI.I.IS. 

Char.  Back  strciiUcd,  reddi^li  brown,  hlack  and  dull  huff;  sides  of 
head  and  rump  ashy;  crnwii  with  median  .slrijic  uf  white  hordcrcd  by 
sfri|ns  ofhlnck  ;  ^triprs  of  vclluw  from  bill  to  eves;  stripes  of  white  over 
eyes;  .slri])cs  of  black  through  eves;  throat  white;  under  p.irts  yravi^h 
shadinij  to  white  op.  the  I)ellv,  the  sides  shaded  with  brown  ;  wings  with 
two  white  bars.     I.cn<;th  6|^  to  7  inches. 

A't's/.  In  an  old  meadow  or  opet  woodland,  or  on  the  edge  of  a  grove  ; 
placed  on  the  ground  uj^on  a  cushii.n  of  moss;  composed  of  giass,  stems, 
roots,  etc.,  lined  with  tine  grass  or  roots, — sometimes  with  hair  or 
feathers. 

/  ;;'•  4-^:  palc  j:jreenish  blue,  thickly  marked  with  several  shades  of 
reddish  brown  ;  0.S5  X  0.60. 

These  large  and  handsome  Sparrows  are  seen  in  this  ])art  of 
Massachusetts  only  as  transient  visitors  at  the  approach  of 
wintiT,  or  in  spring  al)out  tlu-  first  week  in  May.  In  the 
Mi«ldle  and  Southern  States  they  pass  the  inclement  season, 
and  ap])ear  there  as  a  numerous  species.  A  flock  has  been 
observed  in  the  State  of  New  York  in  the  month  of  January. 
In  their  hibernal  resorts  they  are  seen  in  bands,  and  show  a 
predilection  for  thickets,  swamjjs,  small  streams,  ;in(l  the  bor- 
ders of  ponds,  where,  among  the  tall  and  bleaching  weeds, 
they  continue  to  collect  the  seeds,  and  probably  insect  larvai, 
which  constitute  their  usual  fare.  \Vhile  here  they  keep  much 
on  the  ground,  and  seek  out  cool  and  shady  situations,  scratch- 


ninH-nce- 

giKK  imis, 
)airing  to 

X'SS. 

y  north  to 
wonally  in 
iJiai'Lil  in 
i  I  lorid.i. 
;.s,  and  its 


f ;  sides  of 
)rdcrcd  by 
white  over 

rt-^  L;iavi<h 
win;4.s  with 

[)f  a  grove ; 
iss,  stems, 
h    liair   or 

siiades  of 

part  of 

roach    of 

In   the 

t  season, 

las  been 

lanuarv. 

sliow  a 

the  l)or- 

:;  weeds, 

il  larvfie, 

ep  nmch 

seratch- 


\vimi:-Tiiuo.\Ti:i)  siaukuw. 


319 


IHR  up  the  fallen  leaves  in  (lucst  of  worms  and  other  insects, 
and  arc  at  this  time  often  very  nnMisj)icioiis,  allowing'  a  near 
ajjproach  without  hetraymg  any  alarm ;  hut  when  in  lar^'e 
tlo(  ks.  they  mo\e  about  in  timorous  haste  as  soon  as  a|) 
l)roa(;hed.  Alx)ut  the  i5lh  of  April  they  leave  the  Middle 
States,  and  retire  to  the  high  iKjrtlu-rn  latitudis  to  breed,  ha\ - 
inji  been  seen  in  Labrador.  Newfoundland,  and  tiie  fur  i  oun- 
tries  up  to  the  66th  parallel  in  sinnmer.  At  the  period  of 
breedini^  the  male  sin.i^s  with  considerable  enerj^y  and  melody 
already  in  the  early  spring  ;  also  before  their  iKparture  to  the 
North,  on  fine  mornings,  they  are  heard  to  whisper  forth  ,1  lew 
sweet  anil  clear  notes,  as  in  a  revery  of  the  ajjproucliing  hap- 
piness of  their  more  lively  and  interesting  ctMidinon. 

This  Sparrow  —  known  to  tlu-  country  ;)coplt'  «)l  tii..  Last  as  the 
•' reahody  Ilird"  and  "Kennedy  bird''  —  l)rec(ls  abundantly  in 
tiic  nurtlKrn  portions  of  New  York  and  \i w  lainl.uid  as  wlH  as 
in  tile  .Maritime  Provinces:  and  at  the  wist  in  northern  Miih.igan 
and  .Manitol)a.  According  to  .Mr.  Hrcwsttr,  tliis  binl  breeds  also 
"very  conimonlv  on  .Mount  (Iravloek.  sparingly  i/  the  noriiicrn 
part  of  Worcester  County.  .Massachusetts,  and  occasionally  in 
eastern  .Massachusetts."  The  bird  winters  sjjaringly  in  southern 
New  laigland,  and  comnioidy  thence  soutliward  to  I'lorida. 

The  song,  which  is  loud  and  sweet,  is  laniiliar  in  the  district 
wlure  the  birds  build,  tor  they  sing  all  day  long.  ;m<l  are  often 
heard  during  tlie  niglu.      It  lias  been  interpreleil  peaped-pedbody 
pedboiiy-pt'dhody ;  hence  the  name. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


LI 


25 


M 

1.8 


1.25      1.4 

11^ 

^ 

6"     — 

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


i;. 


"!  i 


'i:; 


^u 


1    ttti 

it) 


VESPER   SPARROW. 

GRASS   FIXCH.     BAV-WINGED    BUNTING. 
PoOC.tTES    GR.\MI\EUS. 

Char.  Above,  yellowish  brown,  streaked  with  darker ;  line  over  and 
around  eyes,  white;  shoulder  chestnut  or  hay;  two  white  bars  on  wing; 
two  outer  tail-feathers  partlv  white ;  below,  white  with  buffy  tinge ;  breast 
and  sides  streaked  witii  bmwn.     Length  about  6}^.  inches. 

//fst  In  a  field,  old  meadow,  open  pasture,  or  roadside,  on  the  ground, 
—  usually  hidden  by  tuft  of  grass  or  under  a  low  bush;  composed  of  grass 
and  roots,  and  lined  with  fine  grass,  sometimes  with  hair. 

/Vi,f;'.c.  4-6;  grr  yish  white,  sometimes  with  green  or  pink  tint,  thickly 
marked  with  several  shades  of  brown ;  0.80  X  0.60. 

This  plain-looking  Finch  chiefly  freqtients  dry  pastures  and 
meadows,  and  is  often  seen  perched  on  the  fences  and  in 
orchard  trees  ;  it  also  often  approaches  the  public  roads  and 
gathers  its  subsistence  tamely  from  various  sources.  It  is 
abundant  in  all  the  States  east  of  the  Alleghanies,  where  many 
pass  the  whole  year ;  yet  great  numbers  also  winter  in  the  south- 
ern parts  of  the  Union,  proceeding  as  far  as  the  maritime 
districts  of  (Jeorgia  and  Florida.  From  the  beginning  of 
April  to  the  beginning  of  June,  the  males  sing  with  a  clear  and 
agreeable  note,  scarcely  inferior  to  that  of  the  Canary,  though 
less  loud  and  varied.  On  their  first  arrival,  as  with  the  Song 
Sparrow,  their  notes  are  often  given  in  an  under-tone  of  con- 
siderable sweetness.  Their  song  begins  at  early  dawn,  and  is 
again  peculiarly  frequent  after  sunset  until  dark,  when,  from 


VESPER   SPARROW. 


3^1 


ine  over  and 
lars  on  wing ; 
tinge ;  breast 

II  the  ground, 
osed  of  grass 

tint,  thickly 

jastures  and 
ces  and  in 
roads  and 
es.       It  is 
iiere  many 
|i  the  sonth- 
e  maritime 
ginning   of 
a  dear  and 
|ary,  though 
h  the  Song 
ne  of  con- 
awn,  and  is 
when,  from 


the  fence  of  some  elevated  pasture-field,  in  the  cool  of  the 
summer  evening,  when  uther  songsters  have  retired  to  rest,  the 
(jrass  Sparrow,  more  than  u?>ually  wakeful,  after  a  silence  which 
has  perhaps  continued  nearly  through  the  warmer  part  of  the 
day,  pipes  forth  his  clear  and  slender,  though  now  almost  mo- 
notonous song,  near  to  the  favorite  spot  where  his  mate  hatches 
or  fosters  her  tender  brood  ;  and  from  all  the  neighboring 
meadows,  at  this  silent  hour,  as  the  last  rays  of  the  sun  are  re- 
flected from  the  dusky  horizon,  we  hear  a  constant  rejjetition 
of  an  echoing  and  shrill  tsh  'tsh  Ushe  tc  tshete  tslute,  with  warb- 
ling tones  blended  ami  varied,  at  the  beginning  ami  close  of 
this  simple,  rather  pensive,  but  agreeable  ditty.  They  are 
more  common  in  fields  than  thickets,  and  run  along  the  ground 
in  the  manner  of  the  Lark.  They  likewise  frequent  ploughing 
fields,  searching  on  the  ground  for  insects,  and  are  very  fond 
of  dusting  themselves  and  basking  in  dry  places. 

Being  nearly  sedentan.-,  they  raise  probably  several  broods 
in  the  season.  Sometime^  when  started  from  the  nest,  the 
female  simulates  lamene:^.  with  remarkable  dexterity,  so  as 
very  readily  to  draw  off  the  attention  of  her  enemies  or  in- 
truders. The  young  are  easily  raised  from  the  nest,  and 
become  very  tame,  clean,  and  domestic,  but  readily  (luarrel 
with  each  other. 

The  ••  Bay-winged  Bunting  "  of  earlier  writers  was  named  "  \'cs- 
per  Sparrow  ""  by  Wilson  F'lagg,  from  its  habit  of  singing  during 
the  early  evening.  It  breeds  from  Vir<iinia  and  Kentucky  to  Mani- 
toba and  the  Maritime  Provinces,  and  is  one  of  the  most  abundant 
Sparrows  in  New  England  and  Ontario.  It  winters  from  \'irginia 
southward. 

The  song  is  much  more  effective  than  Nuttall's  description  indi- 
cates. The  voice  is  of  sweet  tone,  and  the  theme,  though  simple, 
is  exceedingly  tender  and  plaintive. 


VOL.  I. 


i\ 


Mti 


IMM 


in 


iiil 


f' 


\'i    i 


li'i 


SONG    SPARROW. 

MeLOSPIZA    FASCIA'IA. 

C}IAR.  Back  streaked  with  black,  bay,  and  ash;  crown  bay,  streaked 
with  black  and  with  two  stripes  of  ash ;  wings  gravisii  brown  edged  with 
dull  rufous  ,  tail  grayish  brown,  with  dark  wavy  cross-bars  ,  below,  white  ; 
breast,  sides  of  throat,  and  sides  of  body  spotted  with  brown,  the  spots 
forming  a  "  patch  "  on  the  breast.     Length  6  to  6^2  inches. 

jVc'sL  In  a  field  or  open  pasture,  amid  a  tuft  of  grass  or  under  a  low 
bush,  sometimes  fastened  to  bush  or  vine,  occasionally  placed  in  a  cavity 
in  a  tree  ;  composed  of  twigs,  grass,  roots,  and  leaves,  lined  with  grass 
and  roots,  or  hair. 

iT'.yj.  3-7  (usually  4  or  5)  ;  dull  white  or  with  tint  of  green,  blue,  or 
pink,  thickly  marked  with  several  shades  of  brown  ;  occasionally  un- 
spotted ;  o.So  X  0.60. 

'This  familiar  and  almost  domestic  bird  is  one  of  the  most 
common  and  numerous  Sparrows  in  the  United  States  ;  it  is 
also,  with  the  Bluebird,  which  it  seems  to  accompany,  one 
of  the    two    earliest,   sweetest,  and    most   enduring  warblers. 


j  1 


)ay,  streaked 
edged  with 
ow,  white  ; 

i-n,  the  spots 

under  a  low 
in  a  cavity 
with  grass 

een,  blue,  or 
asionally  un- 

)f  the  most 
ates  ;  it  is 
ipany,  one 
iz  warblers. 


SONC.    SrAKRUW. 


3^3 


Though  many  pass  on  to  the  Southern  States  at  the  commence- 
ment of  winter,  yet  a  few  seem  to  brave  the  colds  of  New- 
England  as  long  as  the  snowy  waste  does  not  conceal  their 
last  resource  of  nutriment.  When  the  inundating  storm  at 
length  arrives,  they  no  longer,  in  the  sheltering  ^wam])>  and 
borders  of  bushy  streams,  si)end  iheir  time  in  gleaning  an  in- 
sufficient subsistence,  but  in  the  month  of  November  begin  t(.) 
retire  to  the  warmer  States ;  and  here,  on  fine  days,  even  in 
January,  whisper  forth  their  usual  strains.  Ab  early  as  the  4ih 
of  March,  the  weather  being  mild,  the  Song  Sparrow  and  the 
Bluebird  here  jointly  arrive,  and  cheer  the  yet  dreary  face  of 
Nature  with  their  familiar  songs.  The  latter  flits  restlessly 
through  the  orchard  or  neighboring  fields  ;  the  Sparrow,  more 
social,  frequents  the  garden,  barn-yard,  or  road-side  in  quest 
of  support,  and  from  the  top  of  some  humble  bush,  stake,  or 
taller  bough  tunes  forth  his  cheering  lay.  in  frequent  repetitions, 
for  half  an  hour  or  more  at  a  time.  These  notes  have  some 
resemblance  to  parts  of  the  Canary's  song,  and  are  almost 
uninterruptedly  and  daily  delivered,  from  his  coming  to  the 
commencement  of  winter.  \\  hen  the  birds  first  arrive,  while 
the  weather  is  yet  doubtful  and  unsettled,  the  strain  appears 
contemplative,  and  is  often  delivered  in  a  peculiarly  low  and 
tender  whisper,  which,  when  hearkened  to  for  some  time,  will 
bt  and  more  than  usually  melodious,  seeming  as  a  sort  of 
revery,  or  innate  hope  of  improving  seasons,  which  are  recalled 
with  a  grateful,  calm,  and  tender  delight.  At  the  approach  of 
wintei,  this  vocal  thrill,  sounding  like  an  Orphean  farewell  to 
the  scene  and  season,  is  still  more  excpiisite,  and  softened  l)y 
the  sadness  which  seems  to  breathe  almost  with  sentiment, 
from  the  decaying  and  now  silent  face  of  Nature.  Our  song- 
ster, never  remarkable  for  sprightliness,  as  the  spring  advances 
delivers  his  lay  louder  and  more  earnestly.  He  usually  begins 
with  a  /s/i^  fsh'  tshe  fc  tshctc  tsli'ctc'  and  blends  in  a  sood  deal  of 
quivering  notes.  Individuals  also  excel,  and  var)'  their  song  from 
time  to  time  with  very  agreeable  effect ;  and  it  is  only  because 
our  familiar  vocalist  is  so  constantly  heard  and  seen  that  so  little 
value  is  set  upon  his  agreeable,  cheerful,  and  faithful  perform- 


1 


^" 


•■u 


324 


SINGING    IJIRDS. 


.•  •: 


j  i 


iui 


11! 


I      .      I* 


<     llii. 


1:1-1 


ance.  When  not  atteichcd  to  the  garden,  our  Sparrow  seems 
fond  of  freciuenting  low  bushy  meadows,  streams,  swamps,  and 
watery  situations,  which  afford  him  ready  shelter,  and  his  usual 
food  of  worms,  insects,  larvae,  and  seeds.  Such  situations  are 
also  their  favorite  resorts  when,  in  gregarious  and  miscellaneous 
flocks  with  other  congeneric  kinds,  they  are  seen  to  crowd  the 
sheltered  marshes  of  the  Southern  States.  They  are  also  com- 
monly seen  nimbly  running  along  the  ground,  and  gliding 
through  low  thickets  in  ([uest  of  their  insect  fare  ;  and  in  fine 
weather  they  dust  themselves,  anfl  bask  in  the  sun.  I'hey  often 
likewise  fretjuent  the  water,  being  fond  of  washing  ;  and  some- 
times are  seen  to  swim  across  small  streams,  particularly  when 
disabled  from  flying  by  a  gunshot  wound. 

The  nest  is  usually  formed  of  a  considerable  portion  of  fine 
dry  grass  neatly  put  together,  and  mostly  lined  with  horse-hair. 
These  birds  are  very  prolific,  raising  as  many  as  three  broods 
in  a  season,  the  young  being  occasionally  hatched,  in  the  Mid- 
dle States,  from  the  close  of  April  to  the  end  of  August.  They 
are  very  solicitous  for  the  safety  of  their  young,  keei)ing  up  at 
this  time  often  a  tiresome  chirping  ;  and  on  the  destruction  of 
the  female  and  most  of  her  young,  I  have  known  the  remain- 
ing male,  with  unceasing  and  anxious  attention,  raise  a  solitary 
survivor  of  his  ruined  family  witl  the  most  devoted  affection. 
As  they  keej)  the  young  and  their  habitation  so  very  clean,  and 
are  so  prolific,  it  is  a  matter  of  surprise  that  they  do  not  re- 
occupy  the  ])remises  ;  instances  are,  however,  not  wanting  in 
which  they  have  been  known  to  raise  two  broods  in  the  same 
nest.  l)Oth  parents  join  in  the  duty  of  incubation,  and  alter- 
nately feed  each  other  while  so  engaged. 

This  species  nests  from  Soutli  Carolina  to  Lake  Mistassini.  and 
from  central  Ohio  and  northern  Illinois  to  Lake  Winnipeg.  It 
arrives  at  St.  John,  N.  H.,  during  tlie  secoi.d  week  in  April  in  im- 
mense flocks,  and  is  usually  accompanied  by  similar  tlocks  of 
Robins  and  Juncos.  Occasionally  a  few  winter  in  the  Maritime 
Provinces  and  in  Quebec,  while  in  eastern  Massachusetts  and  Con- 
necticut they  are  often  quite  numerous  at  that  season. 


SAVANNA    SI'ARKOW. 


3^5 


3W  seems 

imps,  and 
his  usiKil 
ations  are 
:ellaneous 
crowd  the 
also  com- 
id  gliding 
ind  in  fine 
rhey  often 
and  some- 
larly  when 

ion  of  fine 
hor^ediair. 
ree  broods 
II  the  Mid- 
;ust.    They 
;i)ing  up  at 
;traction  of 
he  rernain- 
a  solitary 
affection, 
clean,  and 
o  not  re- 
wanting  in 
the  same 
and  alter- 


tassini.  and 
imipeg.  It 
April  in  ini- 
riocks  of 
Maritime 
.s  and  Con- 


SAVANNA    SPARROW. 

GROUND    Sl'AKKUW. 

Ammodramus  s.\xd\vichensis  savanna. 

Char.  Above,  streaked  with  grayish  brown,  black,  rufous,  and  gray; 
line  over  the  eyes  and  edges  of  wings  yellow  ;  crown  with  median  stripe 
of  Yellowish  white  ;  line  troni  lower  mandible  yellowish  white  bordered 
by  brown  ;  below,  white  tinged  with  buff,  breast  and  sides  streaked  with 
brown  and  black.     Length  5I2  inches. 

Mese.  In  a  salt-marsh  or  along  a  river  bank,  sonictitnes  in  a  drv 
inland  meadow,  concealed  by  tall  grass  or  tuft  of  weeds  ;  composed  of 
grass,  sometimes  mixed  with  line  roots,  and  occasionally  lined  with 
horse-hair. 

^■.V-r  3-6  ;  variable  in  shape,  size,  and  markings,  usually  tiull  white 
or  with  green  tint,  thickly  spotted  with  dark  brown,  rich  brown,  and 
lilac  ;  o  70  X  O.55 

This  Sparrow,  allied  to  the  preceding,  but  flir  less  f;imiliar,  is 
commonly  seen  in  this  part  of  New  England  from  April  to 
October,  migrating  towards  the  .South  in  severe  weather,  though 
many  pass  the  whole  winter  in  the  Middle  States  In  Georgia 
and  West  Florida  these  birds  are  rather  numerous  in  the  cold 
season,  migrating  in  quest  of  food  probably  from  the  West ; 
and  the  whole  species  generally  show  a  predilection  for  the 
warm  and  sheltered  Wcinage  of  the  sea,  where  the  seeds  and 
insects  they  feed  on  are  most  abundant.  On  their  first  arrival 
in  Massachusetts  they  frequent  the  sandy  beaches  and  shores 
of  the  bays  in  quest  of  Cicindcliv  and  other  coleopterous 
insects  which  frequent  such  situations  ;  and  they  are  at  this 
time  exceedingly  fat,  though  their  moult  is  not  yet  completed. 
In  summer  this  shy  and  timid  species  lives  wholly  in  pastures 
or  grass  fields,  and  often  descends  to  the  ground  in  quest  of 
food.  Its  nest,  also  laid  in  the  grass  and  made  of  the  dry 
blades  of  the  same,  ver>-  similar  to  that  of  the  Song  Sparrow,  is 
usually  built  about  the  close  of  .April. 

In  the  month  of  March,  in  Georgia,  I  observed  rhese  Spar- 
rows in  the  open  grassy  pine  woods  on  the  margins  of  small 
swamps  or  ''  galls."  At  times  they  utter  a  note  almost  exactly 
similar  to  the  chirpings  of  a  cricket,  so  that  it  might  be  easily 
mistaken   for  that  insect.      At  other  times  they  utter  a   few 


ii   V 


HI 


li 


.f 


326 


SIXdINd    15IRDS. 


.  <   1    . 


flKH 


pleasant  notes  somewhat  similar  to  the  song  of  the  Song  Sjjar- 
row,  but  sufficiently  distinct. 

The  Savanna  S]xuio\v  breeds  more  abundantly  alon<;  the  coast 
of  -Massachusetts  than  in  the  interior,  and  perhaps  this  may  apply 
to  all  localities  ;  but  the  opinion  expressed  by  many  writers  that  it 
is  almost  exclusively  a  bird  ol  the  sea-shore — of  the  salt-marshes 

is  far  from  correct.  1  traced  it  uj)  the  valley  of  tiie  St.  John  as  far 
as  there  were  cleared  Helds  or  marshy  meadows,  and  in  no  locality 
was  it  more  abundant  than  at  Fort  Kent,  — the  most  northern  point 
of  Maine.     It  occurs  throuj^hout  the  southern  portii)rs  of  Canatla. 

These  birds  are  rarely  seen  off  the  ground;  an  occasional  perch 
on  a  stoue  heap  or  a  fence  being  the  only  deviation  from  this  rule. 


IPSWICH    SPARROW. 

AmMODR-UIL'S    I'RINCEFS. 

CllAR.  General  appearance  of  a  Ir.rge  pale  Savanna  Sparrow.  Above, 
grayish  brown,  each  feather  streaked  with  bl.ick,  rufous,  and  giay  ;  jrown 
stripe  dull  buff  or  buffy  white  ;  stripe  over  eyes  siniiiar  but  paler  ;  wings 
blackish  brcnvn,  edged  with  buff ;  tail  grayish  brown  tipped  with  white  ; 
beneath,  dull  white  tinged  with  buff  ;  chest  and  sides  streaked  with  brown. 
Length  6  to  6^4  inches. 

A'c'sf.  In  a  cup-shaped  hollow  scratched  in  the  sand  and  concealed  by 
a  tussock  of  grass  or  a  low  bus-h  ;  made  of  gra.ss  compactly  woven,  with 
an  outer  shell  of  coarser  material  and  lined  witn  fine  grass. 

/iX'^^'J-  4-5;  bluish  or  grayish  white  thickly  marked  w^ith  deep  brown 
of  several  shades  and  some  spots  of  purplish  and  grayish  brown  ; 
0.61  X  0.S5. 

This  interesting  bird  was  first  described  by  M'".  C.  J.  Maynard 
from  a  specimen  taken  by  him  at  Ipswich,  Mass.,  in  1868.  For 
two  years  the  type  remained  unique,  and  for  several  years  later  the 
species  was  supposed  to  be  rare.  It  has  since  been  found  all  along 
the  Atlantic  coast  from  Georgia  to  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  It 
usually  frequents  the  sea-shore  or  salt-meadows  near  by,  thougli 
Mr.  N.  C.  Brown  reports  that  he  has  seen  it  at  Lake  Umbagog,  in 
the  interior  of  Maine.  I  met  with  it  in  New  Brunswick  only  for  a 
few  days  during  the  second  week  of  April,  1883.  When  feeding 
on  the  sandy  shore  (the  snow  still  covered  the  fields),  in  company 
with  other  Sparrows,  it  was  not  difificult  to  distinguish  the  Ipswich 
from  their  congeners,  but  it  is  difficult  to  define  the  distinguishing 
characteristics. 


■;''.?.    ! 


1       ( 


hachman's  srARRow. 


327 


ng  Spar- 


thc  coast 
nay  apply 
crs  that  it 
t-niarshcs 
ohn  as  far 
10  locality 
licrn  point 
I  Canada, 
jnul  percli 
this  rule. 


3\v.  Above, 
;iay ;  jrown 
aler  ;  W'ing:» 
with  while  ; 
Iwith  brown. 

oncealed  by 
woven,  with 

deep  brown 
,h    brown  ; 

Maynard 
i,S68.     For 
•s  later  the 
d  all  along 
i/rence.     It 
y,  though 
bagog,  in 
only  for  a 
len  feeding 
company 
le  Ipswich 
inguishing 


In  1S04  Dr.  Jonathan  Dwight,  Jr..  v'sitcd  Sable  Island, off  Nova 
Scotia,  anfl  ohtTiined  several  nests  of  this  species  with  sets  of  eggs. 
His  nionograpli,  issued  as  a  memoir  of  the  Nuttall  Ornitliological 
Club.  (  ontains  the  only  account  that  has  been  ])ublislicd  of  the 
habits  of  the  bird,  and  from  that  paper  I  have  taken  tlie  description 
of  the  nest  and  eggs  given  above. 

Dr.  Dwiglit  describes  these  I)irds  as  tamer  than  they  api)('ar 
when  on  the  migrations,  yet  they  were  so  retiring  he  could  not  learn 
much  of  their  "domestic  affairs."  The  soiig,  he  says,  is  similar 
to  that  of  tile  Savanna  Sparrow,  but  is  "a  more  ])olished  and 
tuneful  affair." 


BACH  MAN'S   SPARROW. 

SL'.MMER    FINCH. 
PeUC;EA    /K.S'H\AIIS    B.ACHM.4NII. 

Chak.  Above,  rufous  streaked  with  black  and  ash;  lines  over  the 
eyes  \sh  ;  edge  of  wing  yellow  ;  below,  bufT,  side.;  shaded  with  ash,  breast 
with  brown.     Length  0,'4  inches. 

A'tst.  In  open  grassy  woodland,  half-cleared  field,  nr  old  meadow  ; 
placed  on  the  ground  ;  made  of  dry  grass  or  mi.xed  with  routs  ;  sometimes 
the  top  is  roofed,  the  entrance  at  the  side. 

£xX^'-     4-5;  white:  0.75  X  0.60. 

This  interesting  species  was  first  made  known  to  .Vudiibon 
by  Dr.  Ikichman,  who  found  it  near  the  l-ldisto  River,  and 
afterwards  breeding  in  the  vicinity  of  Charleston,  South  Caro- 
lina, in  the  pine  barrens.  The  discoverer  remarks  of  this 
bird  :  "  When  I  first  heard  its  notes  they  so  nearly  resembled 
those  of  the  'I'owee  P»unting  that  I  took  it  to  be  that  bird.  As 
soon  as  it  is  seen  in  the  tall  pine-trees  where  it  usually  sits  to 
warble  out  its  melodious  nv)tes,  it  darts  down  and  conceals 
itself  in  the  rank  grass,  through  which  it  runs  off  like  a  mouse, 
and  is  flushed  with  difficulty."  It  is  believed  to  breed  on  the 
ground.  It  is  said  to  be  the  finest  songster  of  the  Si)arrow 
family  in  the  United  States.  Its  notes  are  loud  for  the  size  of 
the  bird,  and  heard  nearly  alone  in  the  region  it  frequents. 
About  the  month  of  November  it  proceeds  to  migrate  flirther 
souti.,  though  a  few  stragglers  still  remain  throughout  the 
winter.  According  to  Latham,  its  nest  is  usually  on  the  ground 
among  the  grass,  under  small  bushes ;  it  is  composed  of  dry 


I 

I 
t 

I 

I ; 


■"■• 


3-^8 


SINGINC    lUKDS. 


If    T 


It 


II! 

llll 


grass  tor  the  most  part,  and  the  eggs  arc  dusky  white.  He 
also  adds  that  these  birds  inhabit  (Georgia  the  whole  year, 
freciuenting  feiues,  brushwood,  and  thickets. 

Some  years  ago  in  (leorgia  in  the  month  of  Marc  h  1  ob- 
served these  Sparrows  in  the  open  grassy  pine  woods,  on  the 
margins  of  small  swamps  or  galls.  On  being  suddenly  sur- 
prised, they  often  (lew  oif  a  little  ilistance,  and  then,  if  followed, 
descended  to  the  ground,  and  ran  and  hid  closely  in  the  tall 
tufts  of  grass. 

Their  notes  at  this  time  were  very  long,  piping,  and  ele- 
vated, and  resembling  often  /.\/ir  /s/i//>  /s/i//>  tship  tship  fship 
/ship,  then  fs/tc  cIC  tsh'  tsh'  /s'lt  ts'/i.  Some  of  these  notes  were 
as  fine  and  lively  as  those  of  the  Canary,  —  loud,  echoing,  and 
cheerful. 

'I'he  food  of  this  species  consists  of  grass  seeds,  coleoptera, 
and  a  variety  of  small  l^erries  as  they  come  in  season,  'ihe 
sexes  are  nearly  alike  in  piimiage. 

This  species  occurs  in  tlie  ("ailf  States  and  north  to  Soutli  Caro- 
lina and  southern  Illinois,  but  tlie  vicinity  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  is 
the  only  locality  in  which  it  has  been  found  in  abundance.  \'ery 
little  is  known  of  its  habits  or  of  its  distribution. 

NoTK.  —  The  type  of  this  species  is  larger  and  darker  than 
bachmanii.  It  is  restricted  to  southern  Georgia  and  Florida,  and 
has  been  named  the  Pine-woods  Sparrow  {^Pcticaa  astivalis). 


I 


\\ 


\        \ 


!■'      , 


i 

1 

4L'^ 

LINCOLN'S   SPARROW. 

LINCOLN'S    FINCH. 

Ml-.LOSl'IXA    l.INCOI.NIl. 

Char.  Above,  streaked  with  brown,  gray,  and  black,  below,  white  : 
band  across  the  breast  and  on  sides  brownish  yellow.  Length  about 
5^i  inches, 

A'L'st.  On  the  ground,  amid  low  bushes,  along  the  skirts  of  marshy 
meadow,  or  on  a  dry  grassy  hillock  in  an  open  woodland  ;  composed  of 
grass. 

Egi^s.  4-5  ;  pale  green  or  huffish,  —  sometimes  almost  white,  —  thickly 
spotted  and  blotched  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac  ;  o.So  X  0.60. 


lite,      lie 
oil-    year, 

rcli  1  ob- 
is, on  the 
enly  sur- 
followed, 
ill  the  tall 

and  ele- 
y////  (ship 
lotes  were 
lohig,  and 

oleoptera, 
ion.      I'he 


outl\  Caro- 
n,  S.  C,  is 
ice.     Very 


ker  than 
orida,  and 
stivalis). 


ow,  white  : 
ngth   about 

of  marshy 
imposed  of 

;,  —  thickly 
3o. 


CiKASSlIOl'l'KR    Sl'ARkOW 


3^9 


The  habits  of  this  l)ureal  s|)e(  ies,  discovered  by  Audubon  in 
Labrador,  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  Son^  Sparrow.  Like 
it,  mounted  on  the  toi)mosl  twij^  of  some  tree  or  tall  shrid),  it 
eh.'nts  for  hours  together ;  or,  diving  \\\\.o  the  thicket,  it  hops 
from  branch  to  branch  until  it  reaches  the  groimd  \\\  (|uest  of 
its  usual  fare  of  insects  and  berries.  It  moves  off  swittly  when 
watched,  and  if  forced  to  take  wing  (lies  low  and  with  rapidity 
to  some  consiilerable  distance.  It  is  met  with  usually  near 
streams,  in  the  sheltered  valleys  of  that  cold  and  desolate 
region.  My  thj  4th  of  July  the  yoimg  had  left  the  nest,  and  in 
August  they  had  l)egun  their  migrations  to  the  .South.  Spe<  i- 
mens  have  been  obtained  by  Mr.  W,  Cooper  near  New  \'ork 
city. 

Lincoln's  Finch  is  now  considered  less  ••  boreal  "  in  its  distribu- 
tion than  Nuttall  and  his  contemporaries  supposed,  tor  tliough  it 
has  been  found  in  Labrador  and  in  tlie  high  .\rctie  regions  of  the 
West,  yet  nests  have  been  discovered  in  Nova  .Scotia,  nortliern 
New  York,  and  Wisconsin,  as  well  as  on  the  higher  mountains  of 
the  West  down  nearly  to  the  Mexican  border.  It  is  a  rare  bird 
near  the  Atlantic,  but  is  abundant  along  the  Mississippi  valley. 


(;rasshopim:r  si'arr(  )w. 

YELLOW- WIXGED   .SI'ARROW.     VELLOW-WIXGED    RUNTINC, 
.\MM()|)R.AMU.S    SAVANNARIM    I' ASSKRINHS, 

Char.  Above,  streaked  with  bay,  black,  buff,  and  ash;  crown  black- 
ish, with  median  line  of  buff;  lines  over  the  eve  buff;  bend  of  wing  bright 
yellow;  below,  buff,  shading  to  white  on  the  belly.  Length  about  5 
inches. 

Nest.  In  a  field,  concealed  by  long  grass;  composed  of  grass,  lined 
with  horse-hair. 

i5]i,^i,'j.     4-5  ;  white,  spotted  with  rich  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.75  X  0.60. 

This  small  Sparrow  is  a  summer  resident  in  the  I'nited 
States,  in  the  distant  territory  of  the  Oregon,  and  is  likewise, 
according  to  Sloane,  a  common  species  in  the  savannas  or 
open  glades  of  the  island  of  Jamaica.  From  what  little  is 
known  of  it  as  a  bird   of  the    United  States,  it   appears    to 


I  i 


M 


•ii 


.■).•) 


^.o 


SINf;iN(i    lilRDS. 


Ilf         ^ 


'If 


rt'innin  in  the  sheltered  plains  of  the  se.i-coast  of  New  N'ork 
;in(l  New  Jersey  until  the  very  connnenrenient  of  winter.  It  is 
;ils()  ol)ser\'e(l  in  the  lower  parts  of  Pennsylvania  ;  and  about  the 
middle  of  May,  or  later,  they  are  occasionally  seen  in  the  gar- 
tlens  in  Canibridge,  Mass..  on  their  way  apparently  to  some 
otIuT  breeding. stati(in.  On  these  occasions  they  perch  in 
sheltered  trees  in  pairs,  and  sini;  in  an  a^jreeable  vi»ice  some- 
what like  that  of  the  Pnrple  l-'inch,  though  less  vigorously.  In 
the  West  Inches  they  live  much  on  the  groiuid,  and  run  like 
I, arks.  Hying  low  when  Hushed,  and  soon  alighting.  Their  nesr 
is  likewise  fixed  on  the  groimd,  among  the  grass,  where  they 
collect  their  usual  fare  of  seeds  and  insects. 

'Ihe  majority  of  local  students  of  bird  life  to-day  consider  this 
species  more  or  less  common  in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut, 
and  it  is  known  to  occur  in  parts  of  the  more  northern  New  Eng 
land  States,  and  in  New  York,  Ohio,  Ontario,  and  Mieliigan.  One 
e\am])Ie  has  been  taken  in  New  Brunswick.  Its  supposed  rarity 
hy  earlier  observers  was  ))robaI)ly  due  to  its  usual  concealment 
amid  tlu'  tall  grass  and  to  its  lack  of  an  attracti\e  son,<; ;  for  in  spite 
ot  NuttalTs  assurance  to  the  contrary,  modern  observers  have  \n- 
dorsed  the  0])inion  expressed  by  one  of  their  leaders  that  "  its  best 
vocalization  is  scarcely  stronger  or  more  musical  than  the  stridula- 
tion  fif  a  u:rasshopper." 


![ 


'1.^:1 


HENSLOWS   SPARROW. 

IIEXSLOW'S    DUNTING. 
.\.M.M(JI»RAMrs    HKXSI.OWII, 

f'jiAR.  Above,  streaked  with  olive  brown,  l)ay,  and  gray ;  crown  olive 
ij;rav,  with  two  blackish  stripes;  edge  of  wing  yellow  ;  below,  buff,  j)akr 
on  throat  and  belly:  sides  of  throat  and  sides  of  body  streaked  with 
black.     Length  about  5  inches. 

.Visf.  In  a  field,  concealed  amid  long  grass;  made  of  grass  with  a 
lining  of  hair. 

/•f;'-;'.c.  4-5;  dull  white,  sometimes  tinged  with  green,  spotted  with 
brown  and  lilac  ;  0.75  X  0.60. 

This  species,  so  much  allied  to  the  Vcllow-winged  Finch 
discovered   by  Audubon,   is  known  to  breed   in   New  Jersey. 


r\v  \iirk 
r.  It  is 
bout  the 
the  gar- 

to   SOllK- 

pcrcli  in 
vv  somc- 
isly.  In 
run  like 
'heir  nesr 
I  ere  they 

sider  this 
nnecticut. 
Nlcw  Ens; 
jan.  One 
st'cl  rarity 
nccahiniit 
;or  in  spite 
s  luwc  in- 
1  "  its  best 
;  stricUila- 


rovvn  olive 
l)uft',  paler 
:akcd  with 

iss   with   a 

otted  with 

:d   Finch 
|v  Jersey. 


LE  CONTL'S  Sl'AKK(J\V. 


00 


As  a  winter  bird  of  passage  it  is  common  in  South  Carohna, 
and  e(iually  abumlant  in  the  pine  forests  of  Floridi,  seeking 
out  l)y  «hoice  the  hgiit  sandy  soils  overgrown  with  pines, 
though  it  keeps  on  the  ground  wholly,  running  with  ( cicrity. 
and  threading  its  way  through  the  grass  with  the  nimbleues? 
of  a  mouse. 


SS 


Henslow's  Sparrow  breeds  from  southern  New  lin^Iand  toSoiUh 
Carolina,  and  from  Ontario  and  Illinois  southward,  and  has  been 
found  in  New  Hampshire  and  \'ermont.  It  is  more  abundant  to 
the  westward  than  near  the  Atlantic  seaboard. 


I.K    COXrK'S   Sl'ARROW. 

LE  CONTE'S   BUNTING. 

Ammodramus  LF.CONTKII. 

CllAK  General  color  reddish  brown,  streaked  with  Iirownish  black, 
the  feathers  inargiiicil  with  pale  biU'f  ;  crown  with  two  black  stripes  sepa- 
rated by  a  narrow  stripe  of  pale  buttish  gray ;  cheeks  and  stripes  over  the 
eyes  buff;  hind  neck  rufous;  untler  parts  buff,  paler  ou  the  bullv  ;  no 
streaks  on  the  breast.  Hill  small  and  slender ;  tail-feathers  narrow, 
tapering,  and  extremely  pointed.     Length  about  5  inches. 

A'c-sf.  In  a  marsh  or  wet  meadow,  raised  from  the  ground  by  tangled 
grass ;  made  of  fine  grass. 

/\i,{?s.  3-?;  delicate  pink,  with  a  few  spots  of  brownish  and  of  black 
towards  the  larger  end;  0.75  X  0.50.     (Thompson.) 

This  interesting  bird  was  first  described  by  Audubon  in  the  1.S43 
edition  of  his  work.  —  issued  after  NiUtall  had  written.  Audubon 
secured  but  one  specimen,  and  only  one  other  was  discovered  until 
1873,  when  Dr.  Coues  took  several  examples  on  the  Dakota  plains. 
Since  then  the  species  has  been  found  by  a  number  of  naturalists, 
anrl  it  is  now  known  to  breed  on  tlie  plains  of  Dakota.  Minnesota, 
and  Manitoba,  migrating  in  the  autumn  through  Illinois,  Iowa. 
Kansas,  etc.,  to  South  Carolina  and  Florida.  It  is  by  no  means 
a  rare  bird,  —  Ridgeway  thinks  it  abundant  in  Illinois,  and  Thomp- 
son reports  it  common  in  Manitoba:  biu.  as  Dr.  Coues  suggests,  its 
retiring  habits  and  the  nature  of  its  resorts  have  doubtless  caused 
it  to  be  overlooked. 

The  birds  resemble  Henslow's  Sparrow,  and  the  habits  of  the 
two  species  are  similar.  Only  one  nest  and  set  of  eggs  have  been 
discovered,  and  they  were  taken  by  Mr.  Ernest  Thompson  on  the 
Manitoba  plains. 


li 

J* 


k 


t 


jt 

iiri 


TREE    SPARROW. 

SpIZELLA    MOXIICOLA. 

Char.  Above,  streaked  with  black,  bay,  and  buff;  crown  chestnut, 
sometime-  the  feathers  edged  with  ashy;  sides  of  head  and  neck  asiiy  ; 
line  from  liehind  eyes  chestnut  ;  wings  with  two  white  bars;  edges  of  tail- 
feathers  white  ;  below,  dull  white,  breast  and  throat  tinged  with  ash  ;  spot 
of  brown  on  the  breast:  flanks  shaded  with  brown.     Length  6%  inches. 

iVc-jV.  (Jn  the  ground  or  in  a  low  bush  ;  made  of  grass,  twigs,  and 
roots,  —  sometimes  cemented  with  mud,  —  lined  with  hair  or  feathers. 

£^^'s.  4-5  ;  pale  green  or  greenish  blue,  spotted  with  reddish  brown  ; 
0.75  X  0.60. 

This  handsome  winter  Sparrow  arrives  from  the  northern 
regions  in  New  England  about  the  close  of  October,  withdraw- 
ing from  Hudson  Bay  and  the  neighboring  cotmtries  some- 
time in  the  month  of  September.  The  species  consequently, 
like  many  more  of  our  Fn'/fi^^i/Ars,  only  measures  its  speed  by 
the  resources  of  subsistence  it  is  able  to  obtain,  and  thus 
straggling  southward  as  the  winter  advances,  it  enters  Pennsyl- 
vania only  about  the  beginning  of  November ;  there,  as  well  as 
in  the  maritime  parts  of  Massachusetts,  and  perhaps  as  far 
south  as  Virginia,  the  Tree  Sparrow  is  often  associated  with 
the  hardy  Snow  Birds,  gleaning  a  similar  kind  of  subsistence  ; 
and  when  rht  severity  of  winter  commences,  leaving  the  woods, 
gardens,  and  uplands  in  which  it  is  an  occasional  visitor,  it 
seeks  in  company  the  shelter  of  some  bushy  swamp,  thickly 
shaded  brook,  or  spring.     Near  Fresh  Pond,  in  this  vicinity, 


lii. 


CHIl'l'IXG    SPARROW. 


3-y  -» 


3\vn  cliestnut, 
nd  neck  ashy  ; 
;  edges  of  tail- 
kvith  ash  ;  spot 
h  6^4  inches, 
^ss,  twigs,  and 
r  feathers, 
ddish  brown  ; 

e   northern 
|r,  withdraw- 
tries  some- 
msequently, 
Its  speed  by 
li.  and   thus 
rs  Pennsyl- 
,  as  well  as 
[haps  as  far 
iciiited  with 
ubsistence  ; 
the  woods, 
|il  visitor,  it 
mp,  thickly 
Ihis  vicinity, 


these  birds  are  at  that  season  numerous,  and  roost  together 
near  the  margin  of  the  reeds,  almost  in  the  society  of  tlie 
Blackbirds,  who  seek  out  a  similar  place  of  warmth  and  shelter 
as  the  chillinL    '•'osts  begin  to  prevail. 

At  this  covji  and  gloomy  season,  and  down  to  the  close  of 
the  first  week  in  November,  as  they  pass  from  branch  to 
branch  and  play  capriciously  round  each  other,  they  keep  up 
almost  perpetually  a  low  and  pleasant  liquid  warble,  not  much 
unlike  that  of  the  Yellow  Bird  {/"'nn^^uV/a  /ns//s),  but  less 
varied.  Sometimes  two  or  three  at  the  same  time  will  tune  up 
s'lueedit  s'weeiiit  ii.'cet,  and  s'waidit  s'waidit  wcet,  accompanied 
by  some  tremulous  trilling  and  variation,  which,  though  rather 
sad  and  querulous,  is  heard  at  this  silent  season  with  peculiar 
delight.  In  summer,  during  the  breeding-time,  they  express 
considerable  melody. 

According  to  Mr.  Hutchins  they  breed  around  the  Hudson 
Bay  settlements,  making  a  nest  in  the  herbage,  formetl  exter- 
nally of  dr)-  grass,  and  lined  with  soft  hair  or  down,  ])robably 
from  vegetables,  in  the  manner  of  the  VelU)w  Bird.  About  the 
beginning  of  April  they  leave  the  Middle  States  for  their  sum- 
mer quarters,  and  arrive  around  Severn  River  in  May  ;  they 
also  probably  propagate  in  Newfoundland,  where  they  have 
been  obser\-ed.  With  us  they  are  still  seen  in  numbers  to  the 
19th  of  April. 

Numbers  of  the  Tree  S;iario\v  winter  regularly  in  the  Maritime 
Provinces  of  Canada.  Macoun  re])orts  the  species  common  in 
summer  at  Lake  Mistassini,  whit  li  lies  a  little  to  the  southward  of 
Hudson  Bay. 


CHH^'ING    SPARROW. 

CHIFPV.     HAIR-BIRD. 

Sp1ZKLL.\    SOCL4LIS. 

Char.  Above,  streaked  with  gravish  lirown,  black,  and  bay  ;  crown 
che.stnut ;  forehead  black ;  sides  of  head  and  neck  ashy ,  dull  white  line 
over  eyes  ;  dusky  stripe  from  bill  through  eyes  ;  hill  black  :  tail  dusky 
with  pale  edgings;  wings  with  two  white  bars;  below,  dull  white,  tinged 
with  ash  on  breast  and  sides.     Length  about  5^  inches. 


w 


\il 


I      I 


(' 

iti 


l( 


!  I  i^ ) 


If 


«; 

\ 

\       Kl    ' 

334 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


AWA  In  a  pasture,  orchard,  or  garden,  placed  in  a  bush  or  low  tree; 
composed  of  grass,  —  sometimes  mixed  with  roots,  —  thickly  lined  with 
horse-hair. 

A\%''s.  4-5;  bluish  green,  spotted,  chiet^y  about  the  larger  end,  with 
brown,  black,  and  lilac;  0.70  X  0.50. 

This  species,  with  the  Song  Sparrow,  is  probably  the  most 
numerous,  common,  and  famiHar  bird  in  die  I'nited  States, 
inhabiting  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Florida,  westward  to  the  banks 
of  the  Missouri,  and  Mr.  Townsend  found  it  to  be  a  connnon 
species  in  the  Territory  of  Oregon.  Aware  of  the  manv  para- 
sitic enemies  of  the  feathered  race  which  it  has  to  encounter, 
who  prowl  incessantly,  and  particularly  in  quest  of  its  eggs,  it 
approaches  almost  instinctively  the  precincts  of  houses,  barns, 
and  stables,  and  frequently  ventures  into  the  centre  of  the 
noisy  and  bustling  city,  to  seek  in  the  cultivated  court  an 
asylum  for  its  expected  progeny.  Soon  sensible  of  favor  or 
immunity,  it  often  occupies  with  its  Lest  the  thick  shrubs  of 
die  ga/den  within  a  few  yards  of  the  neighboring  habitation, 
by  the  side  perhaps  of  a  frequented  walk,  in  the  low  rose-bush. 
the  lilac,  or  any  other  familiar  plant  affording  any  degree  of 
shelter  or  security,  and  will  at  times  regularly  visit  the  thresh- 
old, the  piazza,  or  farm-yard  for  the  crumbs  which  intention 
or  accident  may  afford  it.  On  other  occasions  the  orchard 
trees  are  chosen  for  its  habitation,  or  in  the  lonely  woods  an 
evergreen,  cedar,  or  fir  is  selected  for  the  purpose.  It  makes 
no  pretensions  to  song,  but  merely  chips  in  comi^laint  when 
molested,  or  mounting  the  low  boughs  of  some  orchard  tree  or 
shrub,  utters  a  quickly  articulated  ascending  7j7/  'fs/i  'tsh  '/s/i 
'/s/i  tshc  tslic,  almost  like  the  jingling  of  farthings,  and  a  little 
resembling  the  faint  warble  of  the  Canary,  but  without  any  of 
its  variety  or  loudness.  This  note,  such  as  it  is,  is  continued 
often  for  half  an  hour  at  a  time,  but  is  little  louder  than  the 
chirping  of  a  cricket,  and  uttered  by  the  male  while  attending 
his  brooding  mate.  For  many  weeks  through  the  summer  and 
during  fine  weather  this  note  is  often  given  from  time  to  time 
in  the  night,  like  the  revery  of  a  dream. 

The  nest  of  the  Chipping  Bird  varies  sometimes  consider- 
ably in  its   materials  and   composition.     The  external   layer. 


>  1' 


■  low  tree ; 
lined  with 

end,  with 

the  must 
(I   State?', 
;hc  banks 
e  (J  mm  on 
anv  para- 
ncounter, 
:s  eggs,  it 
,es,  barns, 
re  of  the 
court    an 
favor  or 
shrubs  of 
labi  cation, 
rose-bush, 
degree  of 
le  thresh- 
intention 
orchard 
woods  an 
It  makes 
lint  when 
rd  tree  or 
'tsh  'tsh 
(1  a  Utde 
ut  any  of 
:ontinued 
than  the 
attending 
amer  and 
|e  to  time 

Iconsider- 
lal   Uiver, 


CHIPPING    SPARROW. 


-»    T    - 


seldom  so  thick  but  that  it  may  be  readily  seen  through,  is 
composed  of  dr)-  stalks  of  withered  grass,  and  lined  nu)rc  or 
less  with  horse  or  cow  hair.  I'he  Cuckoo  destroys  many  eggs 
of  this  timid,  harmless,  and  sociable  little  bird,  as  tiie  nests  are 
readily  discovered  and  numerous;  on  such  occasions  the  little 
sufferer  expresses  great  and  unusual  anxiety  for  the  security  of 
her  charge,  and  after  being  repeatetlly  robbed,  the  female  sits 
closely  sometimes  upon  perhaps  only  two  eggs,  desirous  at  any 
rate  to  escape  if  por^sible  with  some  of  her  little  (offspring.  Two 
or  more  broods  are  raised  in  the  season. 

Towards  the  close  oi  summer  the  parents  anii  ilicir  brood 
are  seen  busily  engaged  collecting  seeds  and  insects  in  the 
neighboring  fields  and  lanes,  and  now  become  so  numerous,  as 
the  autumn  advances,  that  flitting  before  the  path  on  cither 
side  as  the  pasrscnger  proceeds,  they  almost  resemble  the 
falling  leaves  of  the  season  rustling  before  the  cheerless  blast  ; 
and  finally,  as  their  food  fails  and  the  first  snows  begin  to 
appear,  advertised  of  the  threatening  famine,  they  disappear 
and  winter  in  the  Southern  States.  In  the  month  of  January, 
in  Georgia,  during  the  continuance  of  the  cool  weather  and 
frosty  nights,  I  frequently  heard  at  dusk  a  confused  chirj^ing  or 
piping  like  that  of  frogs,  and  at  length  discovered  the  noise  to 
proceed  from  dense  flocks  of  the  Chipping  Sparrows  roosting 
or  huddling  near  together  in  a  ])ile  of  thick  brush,  where,  with 
the  Song  Sparrow  also,  they  find  means  to  pass  the  cool 
nights. 

The  Chipping  Sparrow  occurs  throughout  the  Maritime  Prov- 
inces and  westward  to  the  Rockies,  northward  to  the  Great  Slave 
Lake  region,  and  southward  to  Florida.  It  is  abundant  in  Quelicc 
and  Ontario.  It  is  very  abundant  in  the  Eastern  States  and  tlie 
Eastern  Provinces. 


Note.  —  One  example  of  Brewer's  Sparrow  {Spiae/Zd 
hrcweri).  a  bird  that  dwells  chiefly  on  the  western  slopes  of  the 
Rockies,  has  been  taken  in  Massachusetts. 


'ill 


■■  nil 

.; 
t  t.    .  .  jri 


i  t 


W- 

1     '   f 

r 

n 

}ji6  SINGING   BIRDS. 


FIKLD    SPARROW. 

SpIZELL.\    PUSILl.A. 

<"HAK.  Above,  streaked  rufous,  black,  and  buff;  crown  chestnut,  with 
obscure  mctliaii  line  of  ash  ;  hind  neck,  sides  of  head  and  neck  ash  ;  cheek 
shaded  with  brown  ;  winj^s  with  two  white  bars;  below,  white;  breast  and 
throat  tinged  with  yellow  ;  bill  reddish  brown.     Length  5^  inches. 

^\V.f/.  In  a  field,  pasture,  or  oi)en  woodland,  amid  a  tuft  of  grass  or  in 
a  tangled  thicket,  sometimes  placed  on  a  low  bush  or  vine;  composed  of 
grass,  twigs,  and  straw,  lined  with  hair,  line  roots,  or  fur. 

^■xX-^-  3~5;  ''"•'"  ^vhite  or  with  buff  or  green  tint,  usually  thickly  spotted 
with  reddish  brown;  0.70  X  0.55. 

The  Small  Brown  Sparrow  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  and  New 
Mngland  from  the  Southern  States,  where  it  passes  the  winter, 
in  the  beginning  of  April.  It  is  with  us  a  shy,  wild,  and  retir- 
ing species,  j^artial  to  dry  hills  and  i)astures,  and  o]')en,  bushy, 
secluded  woods,  living  much  in  trees.  In  autumn,  indeed,  the 
pair,  accompanied  by  their  brood,  in  small  flitting  flocks  leave 
their  native  wilds,  and  glean  at  times  in  the  garden  or  orchard  ; 
yet  but  little  is  now  seen  of  them,  as  they  only  approach  culti- 
vated grounds  a  few  weeks  before  their  departure.  These 
Si)arrows,  if  indeed  they  are  the  same  as  those  described  by 
\\'ilson.  in  winter  flock  together  in  great  numbers  in  the 
Southern  States,  and  mingling  with  the  Chipping  Birds  and 
other  species,  they  now  line  the  roads,  fences,  and  straggling 
bushes  near  the  plantations  in  such  numbers  as,  with  their 
sober  and  brown  livery,  to  resemble  almost  a  shower  of  rust- 
ling and  falling  leaves,  continually  haunting  the  advancing 
steps  of  the  traveller  in  hungry,  active  flocks,  driven  by  the 
storms  of  winter  into  this  temporary  and  irksome  exile.  But 
no  sooner  does  the  return  of  early  spring  arrive  than  they  flit 
entirely  from  the  Southern  wilds  to  disperse  in  pairs  and  seek 
out  again  their  favorite  natal  regions  of  the  North. 

Our  little  bird  has  a  pretty  loud  and  shrill  note,  which  may 
be  heard  at  a  considerable  distance,  and  possesses  some  variety 
of  tone  and  expression.  Sometimes  it  is  something  like  true 
hi'ce  twai,  tw  'ho  'fw  'A\'  'Av  'tio  'ho,  beginning  loud  and 


:'!:■  I 


istnut,  with 
ash  ;  check 

breast,  aiul 
iches. 

grass  or  in 
imposed  ot 

kiy  spotted 


and  New 
lie  winter, 
and  retir- 
en,  bushy, 
ideed,  the 
3cks  leave 
•  orchard ; 
pach  culti- 
2.     These 
icribed  by 
s    in    the 
>irds  and 
straggHng 
ith  their 
Ir  of  rust- 
dvancing 
1  by  the 
lile.     But 
they  flit 
land  seek 

lich  may 

|e  variety 

Hke  i7ve 

loud  and 


FIELD    SPARROW. 


337 


slow,  and  going  up  and  down,  shrill  and  (jui*  k,  with  a  reverbe- 
rating tone  almost  as  raj)id  as  the  drumming  of  the  Ruffed 
(Irouse.  At  other  times  the  sound  appears  like  k  tic  lic  </<•  de 
if  iP  if  tP  tf  if  i/r\  raj^id  and  echoing  ;  then  «'<v7  icurf  7veed 
7i'(U  ti  \/  \i  \/  \i  \i  \/,  also  lacct  lueet  iccet  7i.'tr/'  Ti-/'  a'/'  w/' 
icf  try :  the  whole  of  these  notes  rising  and  nmning  together 
into  a  short  trill  something  like  the  song  of  the  Canary,  but 
less  varied,  and  usually  in  a  querulous  or  somewhat  plaintive 
tone,  though  towards  the  close  of  summer  I  have  heard  indi- 
viduals nearly  as  musical  and  warbling  as  the  common  Yellow 
Bird.  These  tones  are  also  somewhat  similar  to  the  reverbera- 
tion^.  of  the  L"hii)i)ing  Bird,  but  quite  loud  and  sonorous,  and 
without  the  changeless  monotony  of  that  species.  In  fart,  our 
bird  would  be  worthy  a  place  in  a  cage  as  a  songster  of  some 
merit.  Like  most  of  the  Sparrows,  the  food  of  this  sjK'cies 
consists  of  seeds  and  insects  ;  and  they  also  search  the  leaves 
and  branches  at  times  in  quest  of  moths,  of  which  they  appear 
fond. 

The  Field  Sparrow  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  southern 
New  England,  but  is  rather  rare  north  of  Massachusetts.  It  b.as 
not  been  taken  in  the  Maritime  Provinces,  tiiough  Mr.  Xei'son 
thinks  it  not  uncommon  near  the  city  of  Quebec,  and  it  is  common 
throughout  Ontario  and  in  Manitoba.  It  breeds  southward  to 
South  Carolina  and  winters  from  the  Southern  States  southward. 


Note. — A  few  examples  of  the  Clav-colorei>  Sparrow 
{Spi-el/a pallida)  wander  every  year  from  their  usual  habitat  on 
the  C.reat  Plains  to  Iowa  and  Illinois. 


VOL.    T. 


1  '' 


^P 


Ml 


>       I 

i 


( 


'i' 


ij 


I'       '; 


:«(' 
1 


W-.:\  I 


FOX   SPARROW. 

PaSSERELLA    ILIACA. 

Char.  Above,  foxv  red  (brightest  on  wings  and  rump)  streaked  with 
c  ih  (in  winter  the  asii  is  sometimes  obscure);  head  and  tail  without 
streaks ;  wings  with  two  white  bars  ,  below,  white  spotted  with  red. 
Length  about  7  inches. 

A^f/.  Amid  moss,  or  on  a  low  bush  ,  composed  of  grass  and  moss,  lined 
with  grass,  roots,  and  feathers. 

■Ej;.:;s.  4-5  ;  white  with  green  or  blue  tinge,  spotted  and  blotched  with 
brown  of  several  shades  (sometimes  "^he  brown  almost  conceals  the 
ground  color);  great  variation  in  size,  average  about  O.So  X  o  65. 

This  large  and  handsome  Sparrow,  after  passing  the  summer 
and  breeding-season  in  the  northern  regions  of  the  continent 
around  Hudson  Bay,  and  farther  north  and  west  perhaps  to 
the  shores  of  the  Pacific,  visits  us  in  stragghng  parties  or  pairs 
from  the  middle  of  October  to  November.  At  this  time  it 
frequents  low,  sheltered  thickets  in  moist  and  watery  situations, 
where  it  usually  descends  to  the  ground  and  is  busily  emploved 
in  scratching  up  the  earth  c  nd  rustling  among  the  fallen  leaves 
in  quest  o^  seeds,  worms,  and  insects,  but  more  particularly  the 
last.     It  migrates  in  a  desultory  manner,  and  sometimes  arrives 


U' 


treaked  with 
tail  without 
:d  with  red. 

moss,  lined 

otched  with 
ronceals    the 

le  summer 
continent 
)erhaps  to 
es  or  pairs 
lis  time  it 
situations, 
employed 
len  leaves 
cularly  the 
nes  arrives 


.SLATE-C<  >LOKEl)  JlNCi ). 


339 


as  far  south  as  (ieorgia,  jjas^ing  the  winter  in  the  Southern 
States  and  retiring  early  in  the  s])ring  to  its  favorite  boreal 
retreats.  These  Siiarrows  are  silent  birds,  rather  tame  and 
unsuspicious;  when  alarmed  or  separated  their  ciU  is  simjfly 
slu'p,  slu'p ;  yet  ai  times  in  the  sprint^,  a  little  lx'fi)re  their 
departure,  they  whisper  forth  a  {^w  low  and  sweet  notes  indi- 
cative of  the  existence  of  vocal  powers  in  the  pairing  season. 

According  to  Richardson  this  species  breeds  in  the  woody 
districts  of  the  far  countries  up  to  the  68th  ])arallel. 

Nuttall  was  correct  in  his  conjecture  that  the  Fox  Sparrow  is  a 
vocalist.  It  ranks  as  a  peer  of  the  best  songsters  of  tlie  entire 
Sparrow- Finch  tribe. 

1  have  heard  fhe  song  frequently  in  New  Brunswick,  when  cold 
storms  have  detained  the  birds  on  their  journey  north  until  tlie 
approach  of  their  mating  season.  Sometimes  they  arrive  there 
early  in  March,  and  pass  on  in  a  couple  of  weeks,  without  uttering 
any  other  note  than  a  metallic  cheep.  But  when  they  tarry  until 
after  the  first  week  in  April  they  then  burst  into  full  song,  and 
sing  almost  continuously.  It  is  a  '"fervent,  sensuous,  and  withal 
perfectly  rounded  carol."  writes  William  Brewster:  and  he  adds : 
"It  expresses  careless  joy  and  exultant  masculine  vigor  rather  than 
the  finer  shades  of  sentiment."'  The  voice  is  strong,  of  wide  com 
pass,  and  sweet,  nch  tone. 

Nests  of  this  species  have  been  found  on  the  Magdalen  Islands 
and  in  Newfoundland,  where  it  is  called  the  Hedge  Sparrow,  and 
Thompson  reports  it  breeding  in  numbers  on  Duck  Mountain  in 
Manitoba. 


SLATE-COLORED   JUNCO. 

snow  bird.    white  bill. 

Junto  hvemaus. 

Char.  Male :  upper  pans,  neck,  and  l)rea>t  dark  slate  or  blackish 
ash;  belly  white;  outer  tail-feathers  and  bill,  white.  Female:  similar, 
but  upper  parts  browner,  breast  paler.     Length  Q>%  to  6^  inches. 

Nest.  In  grassy  woodland,  or  old  meadow,  or  by  the  roadside,  3ome- 
times  in  the  garden  of  a  farm-house  :  sheltered  by  a  mound  or  stump,  or 
amid  long  grass  ;  composed,  usually,  of  grass,  sometimes  mixed  with 
roots  or  moss ;  lined  with  feathers,  hair,  fur,  or  moss. 


Ill 


<i 


U 


)40 


siN(;i\(;  liiRDS. 


I' 


ii 


i» 


1 

: ;  '  J  .  ' 

/',>;'.<■•     4-5;  ill'"  white,  or  tiiitccl  willi  L^rcen  or  buff,  spotted  chiefly 
aroiiiul  larger  end  willi  rt(l(li>h-bro\vn  and  lil.ic;  o.So  X  0.60. 

'I'liis  lianly  ;in(l  wry  iiiiincnMis  species,  conmion  to  Ijotli 
coiuineiits,  jjours  in  tlocks  from  the  northern  re^^ions  into  Mic 
I'ni.ed  States  about  the  middle  of  October,  where  their  ap- 
pearance is  looked  n|)on  as  the  presage  of  approaching  winter. 
At  this  season  tliey  migrate  into  the  Sontht-rn  States  in  great 
numbers,  ancl  seem  to  arrive  in  augmenting  hosts  with  tiio 
jjiogress  of  the  wintry  storms  and  driving  snows,  before  wiiich 
they  fly  for  food  rather  than  shelter ;  for  even  during  the 
descent  of  the  whitening  inundation,  and  while  the  tempest 
still  rages  without  abatement,  these  hardy  and  lonely  wander- 
ers are  often  seen  fliuing  before  tiie  blast,  and,  seeking  ad- 
vantage from  ihe  s\vee])ing  current,  descend  to  collect  a  scanty 
pittance  from  the  frozen  and  exposed  ground,  or  stop  to  col- 
lect the  seeds  which  still  remain  ujxjn  the  unshorn  weds 
rising  through  the  dreary  waste.  At  such  times  they  are  also 
frecpiently  accom])anied  by  the  Snow  IJunting,  the  htnnbly 
dressed  Yellow  Bird,  and  the  querulous  Chickadee.  Driver 
to  straits,  however,  by  hunger,  they  at  length  becoine  more 
familiar,  and  are  now  seen  about  the  barns  and  out-houses, 
spreading  themselves  in  busy  groups  over  the  yard,  and  even 
approaching  the  steps  of  the  door  in  towns  and  cities,  and 
gleaning  thankfully  from  the  threshold  any  crumbs  or  acci- 
dental fragments  of  provision.  Amidst  all  this  threatening  and 
starving  weather,  which  they  encounter  almost  alone,  they  are 
still  lively,  active,  and  familiar.  The  roads,  presenting  an 
accidental  resource  of  food  for  these  northern  swarms,  are  con- 
sequently more  frequented  by  them  than  the  fields.  Before  the 
severity  of  the  season  commences,  they  are  usually  only  seen 
moving  in  families  ;  and  the  parents,  v.-atchful  for  the  common 
safety,  still  continue  by  reiterated  chirpings  to  warn  their  full- 
grown  brood  of  every  approach  of  danger,  and.  withdrawing 
them  from  any  suspicious  observation,  wander  off  to  securer 
ground.  At  this  time  they  frequent  the  borders  of  woods,  seek 
through  the  thickets  and  among  the  fallen  leavr^s  for  their 
usual  food  of  seeds  and  dormant  insects  or  their  larvne.     Their 


cd  cliielly 

to    bolli 
into  Mio 
their  ap- 
g  winter, 
in  great 
with  the 
)re  which 
iring    the 
tenipeiit 
•  wander- 
king   ad- 
:  a  scanty 
)p  to  col- 
rn  weeds 
y  are  also 
?  humbly 
Driver 
me  more 
It-houses, 
and  even 
ti'"s,  and 
or  acci- 
ning  and 
they  are 
kiting   an 
are  con- 
lefore  the 
Inly  seen 
Icommon 
lieir  full- 
[idrawing 
securer 
ids,  seek 
for  their 
Their 


SLATE-CULOKED     [LNCU. 


341 


caution  is  not  unnecessary,  for  on  the  skirts  of  the  larger  tlocks 
the  famished  Hawk  prowls  for  his  fated  prey,  and  des'  ending 
with  a  sudden  and  successful  sweep,  carries  terror  through  all 
the  wandering  and  retreating  ranks. 

In  the  latter  end  of  March  or  beginning  (jf  April,  as  the 
weather  begins  to  be  mild,  they  re-appear  in  tlocks  from  the 
South,  frecpienting  the  orchard  trees,  or  retreating  to  the  shel- 
ter of  the  woods,  and  seem  nuw  to  prefer  the  shade  ol  thickets 
or  the  sides  of  hills,  and  freciuently  utter  a  few  sweet,  clear,  and 
tender  notes,  almost  similar  to  the  touching  warble  of  the 
t'^ropean  Robin  Redbreast.  I'he  jealous  contest  for  the 
selection  of  mates  already  also  takes  place,  soon  alter  whi(  h 
they  retire  to  tne  northern  regions  to  breed  ;  though,  accord- 
ing to  Wilson,  many  remove  only  to  tlie  high  ranges  of  the 
Alleghany  Mountains,  where,  in  the  interior  of  Virginia,  and 
towards  the  western  sources  of  the  Sus(|uehanna,  they  also 
breed  in  great  numbers,  fixing  their  n^sts  on  the  ground  or 
among  the  grass,  the  pairs  still  associating  in  near  communion 
with  each  other.  In  the  fur  countries  they  were  not  observed 
by  Richardson  beyond  the  5  7th  parallel. 

The  Junco  breeds  from  northern  New  England  northward,  and 
on  the  higher  hills  south  to  North  Carolina.  It  is  an  abundant 
summer  resident  of  the  .Maritime  Provinces,  and  winters  there  in 
s.'.ull  numbers.  It  also  winters  sparsely  in  noithern  New  Knt^land. 
and  from  Massachusetts  southward  it  is  a  comnu)n  winter  bird. 

The  song  is  very  similar  to  that  of  tlie  Chipping  Sparrow. 
Though  usually  building  its  nest  on  the  ground,  a  few  have  been 
found  in  other  situations.  Sheriff  iiisliop,  of  Kentville,  N,  S.,  re- 
corded in  the  O.  &  O.  for  .Septeml)er,  iSSS,  finding  nests  on  branches 
of  IDW  trees,  in  holes  in  apple-trees,  etc. 


Note,  —  Examples  of  Shufeldt's  Junco  (/.  Jiycinalis  s/m- 
feldti),  a  western  form,  has  been  reported  from  several  Eastern 
States. 

Another  species,  the  Carolina  Junco  (/.  //.  caro/inciisis),  was 
first  described  i)y  .Mr.  William  Brewster  from  specimens  obtained 
by  him  on  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina  in  June,  1885.  It  is 
larger  and  lighter  colored  tlian  livciualis.  and  has  a  horn-eolored 
bill. 


f'    ( 


ifl 


34-' 


SIN'CJlNt;    I5IUDS. 


:  I 


'HI 


1 

L  ji 


M 


III 


:^^l 


SWA.l  1»    SPARKOW. 

MeLOSI'IZA    (JKORCIANA. 

Char.     AIjovo,  -i   with   brown,  black,  and  buff;  crown  l)ay, 

sonictinits  with  inch.  .i...c  nicdian  line  of  ash  and  streaks  of  black;  fore- 
head l)lack  ;  blown  strijje  bcliind  eves,  sides  of  liead  and  neck  ash; 
below,  dull  while,  breast  shaded  with  ash,  sides  shaded  with  brown  , 
wings  and  tail  tinged  with  I)av.     Lcngtii  about  5 '4  inches. 

A\'s(,  Under  cover  of  long  grass,  in  a  swamp  or  wet  meadow;  usually 
made  entirely  of  grass,  though  sometimes  weed-stems  are  added  to  the 
exterior,  and  haii  is  used  in  lining. 

.^VXO'.  4-6  ;  (.lull  white,  tinted  with  green,  blue,  or  pink,  blotched,  often 
clouded,  with  lilac  and  several  shades  of  brown  ;  o.So  X  0.60. 

The  aquatic  habits  of  these  common,  though  Httle  known, 
birds  is  one  of  their  most  remarkable  pecuUarities.  In  New 
England  they  arrive  from  the  Southern  Slates,  where  they  win- 
ter, about  the  middle  of  April,  and  take  up  their  summer  resi- 
dence in  the  swamps  and  marshy  meadows  through  which, 
often  withoiit  Hying,  they  threatl  their  devious  way  with  the 
same  alacril)  as  the  Rail,  with  whom  they  are  indeed  often 
associated  in  neighborhood.  In  consecjuenre  of  this  perpetual 
brushing  through  sedge  and  bushes,  their  feathers  are  fre- 
quently so  worn  that  their  tails  appear  almost  like  those  of 
rats,  and  are  very  often  flirted  in  the  manner  of  the  Wagtail. 
Occasionally,  however,  they  mount  to  the  tops  of  low  bushes 
or  willow-trees  and  chant  forth  a  few  trilling,  rather  monoto- 
nous minor  notes,  resembling,  in  some  measure,  the  song  of 
the  Field  Sparrow,  and  appearing  like  ^701'  /ro'  fra'  hd'  M>'  tic' 
hoc,  and  hoP  /a'V  'tw  tio'  tive,  uttered  in  a  ])leasant  and  some- 
what varied  warble.  These  notes  are  made  with  considerable 
effort,  and  sometimes  with  a  spreading  of  the  tail.  In  the 
spring,  on  their  first  arrival,  this  song  is  delivered  with  much 
spirit,  and  echoes  through  the  marshes  like  the  trill  of  the 
Canary.  The  sound  now  resembles  the  syllables  ^tw  ^tw  ^tw 
'tivee  'hi'ce  'tw  'twe  'hoc,  or  Ushp  Wsli/^  'tshc  ' tsh  'fsh  'tsh  'tsh, 
beginning  loud,  sweet,  and  somewhat  plaintive  ;  and  the  song 
is  continued  till  late  in  the  morning,  and  after  sunset  in  the 
evening.     This  reverberating  tone  is  again  somewhat  similar 


m 


m 


SWAM  I'    Sl'AUKoW. 


343 


iwn  bay, 
ck ;  fore- 
cck  ash  ; 
1   brown  , 

;  iihually 
;d  to  the 

icd,  often 

known, 
In  New 
ley  witt- 
ier resi- 
i  which, 
vith  the 
id  often 
erpetvuil 
are   fre- 
hose  of 
Vai'tail. 
bushes 
Inonoto- 
song  of 

/u''   /7c'' 

some- 
derable 
In   the 
|h  much 
of  the 

'sh  Ush, 

e  song 

in  the 

similar 


to  that  of  the  ("hipping  Sjjarrow,  bin  fir  louder  and  more  musi- 
(  al.  In  the  intervals  the  Swamp  Sparrow  descends  into  the 
grashy  tuss(jcks  and  low  L-ushes  in  cpiest  of  his  insect  food,  as 
wj.'ll  as  to  repose  out  of  sight ;  and  while  here  his  movements 
are  as  silent  and  secret  as  those  of  a  mouse.  I  In-  rice  planta- 
tions and  river  swamps  are  the  fav(jrite  hibernal  resorts  of 
these  birds  in  Louisiana,  (leorgia,  and  the  Carolinas  ;  here  they 
are  very  numerous,  and  skulk  among  the  canes,  reeds,  and  rank 
grass,  solicitous  of  concealment,  and  always  exhibiting  their 
predilection  for  watery  places.  In  the  breeding  season,  before 
the  ri])ening  of  many  seeds,  they  live  much  on  the  insects  of 
till'  marshes  in  which  they  are  fouml.  particularly  the  smaller 
coleojiterous  kinds,  Caraln  and  Ciirculioiu's.  They  extend 
their  northern  migrations  as  far  as  the  coasts  of  Labrador  and 
Newfoundland. 

'i'hey  probiibly  raise  two  or  three  broods  in  a  season,  being 
e(|ually  prolific  with  our  other  Sparrows.  They  express  extreme 
solicitude  for  their  joung  even  after  they  are  fully  Hedged  and 
able  to  provide  for  themselves  ;  the  young  also,  in  their  turn, 
possess  uncommon  cunning  and  agility,  running  and  concealing 
themselves  in  the  sedge  of  the  wet  meadows.  They  are  (|uite 
as  difficult  to  catch  as  field  .ice,  and  seldom  on  these  emer- 
gencies attemi)t  to  take  win^.  We  have  observed  one  of  these 
sagacious  birds  dart  from  one  tussock  to  another,  and  at  last 
dive  into  the  grassy  tuft  in  such  a  manner,  or  elutle  the  grasp 
so  well,  as  seemingly  to  disappear  or  burrow  into  the  earth. 
Their  robust  legs  and  feet,  as  well  as  long  claws,  seem  jiur- 
posely  ])rovide(l  to  accelerate  this  clinging  and  running  on  the 
uneven  ground. 

This  species  is  a  common  summer  resident  throughout  the  settled 
portions  cf  eastern  Canada,  and  abundant  on  the  St.  Clair  i"hils 
and  in  Mai.itoba.  It  is  common  at  that  season  in  New  England 
also,  and  breeds  south  to  Pennsylvania.  A  few  spend  each  winter 
in  some  marshes  near  Boston,  and  the  flocks  winter  from  that  lati- 
tude to  the  (kilf. 

Mr.  Chapman  tells  us  that  in  the  South  they  frequently  belie 
their  name  and  resort  to  dry  fields, 


f     [ 


I 


■I 


S.  V' 


SHARP-TAILFI)   SPARROW. 

SHORE    FINCH. 

Amm( )nK.v.MLs  cAUl)Acu^^'s. 

Char.  Above,  brownish  gray  tinged  with  olive;  crown  darker,  with 
median  stripe  ofashv  gray  and  two  stripes  of  black;  back  streaked  with 
black;  stripes  of  biifl"  above  and  l)eIow  eyes  meeting  behind  ear-coverts; 
wings  edged  with  yellow;  tail-feathers  narrow,  with  acutely  i>ointed  tips; 
below,  dull  white,  breast  and  sides  tinged  with  buff  and  streaked  with 
black.     Length  about  $^'4  inches. 

.Vest.  In  a  salt-marsh  or  wet  meadow,  amid  a  cluster  of  reeds  or  tuft 
of  sedges,  to  the  stems  of  which  it  is  sometimes  fastened  ;  a  somewhat 
bulky  structure  of  grass  and  weed-stems,  lined  with  fine  grass. 

Ei:;i;s.  4-5;  dull  white  or  tinged  with  buff  or  green,  thickly  spotterl 
with  brown  and  lilac;  0.75  X  0.55. 

The  Shore  Finch  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  low  islands  and 
marshy  sea-coasts  from  Mass;vchnsetts  to  Texas,  living  on 
small  shrimjis,  marine  insects,  and  i)rol)ably  grass  seeds,  mov- 
ing through  the  rank  herbage  nearly  with  the  same  agility  and 
timidity  as  a  Swamp  Sparrow,  to  which  in  structure  of  the 
feet   and  stoutness  of  the  bill    it   bears  considerable  affinity. 


W\ 


ker,  with 
ikcd  with 
■  coverts  ; 
Itcd  tijis; 
kcd  with 

is  or  tuft 
lomcwhat 

spotted 

ids  and 
[ing  (jn 
IS,  mov- 
fity  and 
of  the 
Litfinity. 


ACADIAN    MIAkl'-lAll.i:i>    >l'AKKo\V 


345 


Tht'SL"  birds  arc  not  ran-,  though  not  so  numerous    ii  the  Sea- 
side Sparrow,  with  \vhi(  h  they  connnonly  associate. 

'Ihese  Kinches  frenuent  the  water,  and  walk  mi  tlu  tloating 
weeds  as  if  on  the  land  ;  throughout  the  winler  they  remain 
grrgarioiis  till  spring,  when  they  sei)arate  fur  the  purpose  of 
brei'ding.  They  are  almost  silent,  a  single  f:^<,rf  being  now 
all  they  are  heard  to  utter;  and  even  in  the  spnny,  m.  defer- 
tivc  arc  they  in  melody  that  their  notes  are  s(  an  ely  worthy 
the  name  of  a  song.  I'hey  nest  on  the  gromul,  amid  the  short 
marsh-grass  near  the  line  of  high-water  mark ;  a  slight  hollow 
is  made,  ami  then  lined  witli  delirate  grass.  They  raise  two 
broods  in  the  season  in  the  Middle  States. 

*•  Sliarp-tails"  have  been  traced  north  to  Priiue  I'dwanl's  I.si.uul, 
but  in  1887  Mr.  Jonatiiaii  Dwight,  Jr.,  discuvetcd  that  true  cuinia- 
Lii/iis  liad  not  heen  taken  beyond  Portsmouth,  N.  H..  the  l)inls 
fouiiil  to  the  iiortiiward  ol  tluU  point  being  .1  distinct  variety,  which 
he  named  siibvir^^^atus. 


ACADIAN    SHARi'-r\Il.i:i)    SPARROW. 
Amm( )I)Ramus  c.al dacltl's  suhvir(;a rijs. 

Char.  "  Similar  in  size  and  coloring  \o  A.  caiuiacutus,h\x\.  paler  and 
much  less  consiiiciioiisly  streaked  beneath  with  jiale  greenish  prav  instead 
of  black  or  deep  brown.  Hill  averages  smaller.  Comiiared  with  iielsoni 
it  is  much  paler  and  grayer,  generally  larger,  and  with  a  longer  bill  " 
(Dwight). 

AV.iV  and  i^vv*'  '"'^'  ""^  known  to  ditfer  from  those  of  true  ratiif'.uiitus. 

The  habitat  of  this  newly  discovered  sub-species,  or.  rather,  the 
limit  of  its  range,  has  not  yet  been  determined.  Mi".  Dwight  gives 
it  as  "  Marshes  of  southern  New  Brunswick.  F'rince  Kdward's 
Island,  and  probably  Nova  .Scotia,  and  southward  in  migration 
along  the  Atlantic  coast."  In  habits  the  present  bird  differs  from 
caudacutus  in  trecpienting  fresh-water  marshes  and  dry  meadows 
on  the  margins  of  inland  streams. 

The  song  of  this  bird  -  if  its  few  wheezy  notes  deserve  such 
recognition  —  is  a  rather  ludicrous  etYort.  and  suggests  a  bad  cold 
in  the  head.  Mr.  Dwight  represents  it  by  the  syllables  lic-sc-e- 
e-e-oop-  All  I  remember  having  heard  from  the  specimens  I 
encountered  is  the  ste-c-e-e-oop,  delivered  with  apparent  eftort,  as 
if  choking. 


1 


340 


SINGING    BIRDS. 


ii 


1 

« 

NELSON'S   SPARROW. 

Am.MODR.\.MUS   CAUDACUTUS    NELSOXl. 

Char.  Differs  from  the  type  by  the  colors  of  the  back  being  very 
sharply  defined,  the  white  a  clearer  shade,  and  the  brown  a  richer  and 
more  decided  umber ;  chest  and  sides  decjj  buff.  Size  larger  than  true 
cauiiacutus.     l^ength  about  5j^  inches. 

.Vist  and  £,^ifs  similar  to  caiidacutiis. 

Nelson's  Shaq>-tail  was  described  by  Mr.  J.  A.  Allen  in  1875. 
It  is  found  in  summer  on  the  marshes  of  the  Mississippi  valley, 
from  northern  Illinois  to  .Manitoba,  and  in  winter  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  from  Massachusetts  (sparingly)  to  South  Carolina,  and  west 
to  Texas. 


SEASIDE   SPARROW. 

SEASIDE    FINCH. 
Ammodr.\mus  MARITLMUS. 

Char.  Above,  dull  olive  brown,  back  and  head  with  indistinct  streaks 
of  ashy;  superciliary  line  and  edge  of  wing  yellow  ;  below,  dull  white,  the 
breast  and  .sides  with  dark  streaks.     l,ength  about  6  inches. 

iVtSt.  Hidden  amid  a  tuft  of  grass  or  coarse  sedges  in  a  salt  marsh  or 
wet  meadow  ;  sometimes  placed  on  the  ground,  often  a  few  inches  above 
it :  composed  of  dry  grass. 

E^:ru  4-6:  dull  white  with  green  or  buff  tint,  spotted  with  brown ; 
o.So  X  0.60. 

This  species  is  not  uncommon  in  the  maritime  marshy 
groimds  and  in  the  sea  islands  along  the  Atlantic  coast  from 
Massachusetts  to  the  Southern  States.  It  confines  its  excur 
sions  almost  wholly  within  the  bounds  of  the  tide-water,  leav- 
ing its  favorite  retreats  for  more  inland  situations  only  after 
the  prevalence  of  violent  easterly  storms.  In  quest  of  marine 
insects,  Crustacea,  shrimps,  and  minute  shell-fish,  it  courses 
along  the  borders  of  the  strand  with  all  the  nimbleness  of  a 
Sandpiper,  examining  the  sea-weeds  and  other  exuviae  for  its 
fare  :  it  seeks  out  its  prey  also  at  dusk,  as  well  as  at  other 
times,  and  usually  roosts  on  the  ground  like  a  Lark.  In  short, 
it  derives  its  whole  subsistence  from  the  margin  of  the  ocean, 


SEASIDE    SPARROW. 


347 


:  being  very 
.  richer  and 
:r  tlian  true 


;n  in  1875. 
ippi  valley, 
lie  Atlantic 
1,  and  west 


and  it>  flesh  ii  even  imbued  with  the  rank  or  fishy  taste  to  be 
expected  from  the  nature  of  its  food.  At  other  times  it  re- 
mains amiiist  the  thickest  of  the  sea-grass,  and  climbs  upon 
the  herbage  with  as  much  dexterity  as  it  runs  on  the  ground. 
Its  feet  and  legs  for  this  purpose  are  robust,  as  in  the  Swamj) 
Sparrow.  It  appears  to  rear  two  broods  in  the  season.  In 
May  and  June  the  Seaside  Finch  may  be  seen  almost  at  all 
hours  perched  on  the  top  of  some  rank  weed  near  the  salt- 
marsh,  singing  with  much  emphasis  the  few  notes  which  com- 
pose its  monotonous  song.  When  approached  it  seeks  refuge 
in  the  rank  grass  by  descending  down  the  stalks,  or  tlies  oft"  to 
a  distance,  riirting  its  wings,  and  then,  alighting  suddenly,  runs 
off  with  great  nimbleness. 

The  Seaside  Finch  is  now  considered  a  rare  l)ird  in  Massachu- 
setts thoujjh  an  abundant  summer  resident  of  the  salt  marshes  of 
southern  Connecticut.  It  breeds  southward  to  North  Carolina, 
and  winters  in  the  Southern  States. 


tinct  streaks 
11  white,  the 

It  marsh  or 
Inches  above 

[vith  brown ; 

|e    marshy 
:oast  from 
lits  excur 
later,  leav- 

only  after 
lof  marine 

it  courses 
Iness  of  a 
liae  for  its 
at  other 
In  short, 

he  ocean, 


NoT-E.  —  Scott's  Seaside  Sparrow  (A.  viaritimns  penin- 
siller)  was  first  described  from  specimens  taken  by  Mr.  W.  E.  D. 
Scott  at  Tarpon  Springs.  Florida,  in  i.SSS.  It  is  intermediate  in 
coloration  between  A.  iii^^nsceiis  and  A.  viaritiiinis. 

This  race  is  found  in  South  Carolina  and  Florida,  and  along  the 
Gulf  coast  to  Texas. 

The  DcsKV  Seaside  Sparrow  {Animfldra/znts  Ht'i^rescens) 
differs  from  maritiir.us  in  being  black  above,  streaked  with  olive 
and  gray:  beneath  white,  streaked  with  black.  It  was  described 
originally  by  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard.  who  captured  the  type  specimen 
in  1S72,  in  southern  Florida.  He  reported  the  bird  as  c]uite  abun- 
dant in  some  localities,  but  no  other  collector  has  been  successful 
in  finding  it. 


'r  \ 


AMERICAN    COLDFINCH. 

YELLOW    BIRD.     THISTLE    DIKD.     THISTLE   FINCH. 

CANARY. 


W  II.D 


Sl'INL's   TRIS'lIS. 

Char.  Male  in  suniMier:  bright  gamboge  yellow;  crown,  wii'gs,  and 
tail  black  ;  upper  and  undc»-  taii-coverts,  wing  and  tail  marking?,  white. 
In  winter  the  male  resembles  the  female,  though  with  less  olive  tint. 
Female  :  above,  olive  brown  ;  below,  paler  or  yellowish  ;  forehead  with- 
out black  ;  wings  and  tail  much  the  same  as  in  the  male.  Length  about 
4^4  inches. 

A'fst.  In  a  pasture  or  orchard  ;  usually  placed  in  a  crotch  of  a  decidu- 
ous tree  lo  to  20  feet  from  the  ground;  a  compact  and  gracefully  formed 
cup,  made  of  grass  and  vegetable  tibre,  lined  with  grass  and  plant  down, 
and  often  with  hair. 

^4^4'^-  .>~6  ;  white  with  tint  of  green  or  greenish  blue,  c ccasionally 
marked  with  faint  spots  of  brown  ;  o.6^  X  0.50. 

This  common,  active,  and  gregarious  Goldfinch  is  a  very- 
general  inhabitant  of  the  United  States.  It  is  also  for.nd  in 
summer  in  the  remote  interior  of  Canada,  in  the  fur  countries 
and  near  Lake  Winni|)ique.  in  the  49th  degree  of  latitutle,  as 
well  as  in  the  remote  territory  of  Oregon  and  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  on  the  banks  of  Lewis's  River,  where  I  found  the 
nest  as  usual  with  white  eggs.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  also 
met  with  in  Mexico,  and  even  in  Ciuiana  and  Surinam  in  trop- 
ical America,  where  it  frequents  the  savannas.  Although 
many  of  these  birds  which  spend  the  summer  here  leave  at 
the  approach  of  winter,  yet  hungry  flocks  are  seen  to  arrive  in 


.  I .. . 


AMERICAN    GOLDFINCH. 


349 


this  part  of  New  Englainl  throughout  that  season;  and  some- 
times, in  company  with  the  Snow  Buntings,  in  the  inclement 
months  of  January  and  February,  they  may  be  seen  busily 
employed  in  gleaning  a  scanty  pittance  from  the  seeds  of  the 
taller  weeds,  which  rise  above  the  deep  and  drifted  snows.  As 
late  as  the  15th  of  September  I  have  obser\-ed  a  nest  of  the 
Yellow  Bird  with  the  young  still  unfledged.  Their  migrations 
are  ver)-  desultor)-.  and  do  not  probably  extend  very  far,  their 
progress  being  apparently  governed  principally  by  the  scarcity 
or  abundance  of  food  with  which  they  happen  to  be  su])plied. 
Thus,  though  they  may  be  numerous  in  the  dej)th  of  winter,  as 
soon  as  the  weather  relaxes  in  the  month  of  March,  scarcely 
any  more  of  them  are  to  be  seen,  having  at  this  time,  in  quest 
of  sustenance,  proceeded  probably  to  the  southern  extremity  of 
the  Unite<l  States.  Tho-^e  observed  in  tropical  America  may 
be  hibernal  wanderers  from  the  cooler  parts  of  Mexico.  At 
all  events  they  select  the  milder  climates  of  the  Union  in 
which  to  pass  the  breeding  season,  as  at  this  time  they  are  but 
rarely  seen  in  the  Southern  States,  Kentucky  being  about  tlie 
boundary  of  their  summer  residence. 

Naturally  vagrant  and  wandering,  they  continue  to  live  in 
flocks  or  in  near  vicinage,  even  throughout  the  greatest  part  of 
the  selective  season.  As  the  fine  weather  of  spring  approaches 
they  put  off  their  humble  winter  dress,  and  the  males,  now 
appearing  in  their  temporary  golden  livery,  are  heard  tuning 
their  lively  songs  as  it  were  in  concert,  several  sitting  on  the 
same  tree  enjoying  the  exhilarating  scene,  basking  and  pluming 
themselves,  and  vying  with  each  other  in  the  delivery  of  their 
varied,  soft,  and  cheerful  warble.  They  have  also  the  faculty 
of  sinking  and  raising  their  voices  in  such  a  delightful  cadence 
that  their  music  at  times  seems  to  float  on  the  distant  breeze, 
scarcely  louder  than  the  hum  of  bees  ;  it  then  breaks  out  as  it 
were  into  a  crescendo,  which  rings  like  the  loud  son;  of  the 
Canary.  In  cages,  to  which  they  soon  become  familiar  and 
reconciled,  their  song  is  nearly  as  sonorous  and  animated  as 
that  of  the  latter.  When  engaged  in  quarrel  they  sometimes 
hurl  about   in  a  whole   flock,  some,  as  it  were,  interfering  to 


i: 


i      I 


350 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


iff 


I' 


Ot., 
i 


m 


make  peace,  others  amused  by  the  fray,  all  uttering  loud  and 
discordant  chirpings.  One  of  their  most  common  whining 
calls  while  engaged  in  collecting  seeds  in  gardens,  where  they 
seem  to  be  sensible  of  their  delinquency,  is  '///</r  /'/•,  'may  be. 
They  have  also  a  common  cry  like  'tshevect  'tshrrce,  uttered  in 
a  slender,  complaining  accent.  These  and  some  other  twitter- 
ing notes  are  frequently  uttered  at  every  impulse  while  pursu- 
ing their  desultory  waving  flight,  rising  and  falling  as  they  shut 
or  expand  their  laboring  wings.  They  are  partial  to  gardens 
and  domestic  premises  in  the  latter  end  of  summer  and 
autumn,  collecting  oily  seeds  of  various  kinds  antl  shelling 
them  with  great  aildress  and  familiarity,  n"  undisturbed  often 
hanging  and  moving  about  head  downwards,  to  suit  their  con- 
venience while  thus  busily  and  craftily  employed.  They  have 
a  particular  fondness  for  thistle  seeds,  spreading  the  down  in 
clouds  around  them,  and  at  this  time  feeding  very  silently  and 
intently  ;  nor  are  they  very  easily  disturbed  while  thus  engaged 
in  the  useful  labor  of  destroying  the  germs  of  these  noxious 
weeds.  They  do  some  damage  occasionally  in  gardens  by 
their  indiscriminate  destruction  of  lettuce  and  flower  seeds, 
and  are  therefore  often  disliked  by  gardeners  ;  but  their  use- 
fulness in  other  respects  far  counterbalances  the  trifling  inju- 
ries they  produce.  They  are  very  fond,  also,  of  washing  and 
bathing  themselves  in  mild  weather;  and  as  well  as  tender 
buds  of  trees  they  sometimes  collect  the  Confervas  of  springs 
and  brooks  as  a  variety  to  their  usual  fare. 

They  raise  sometimes  two  broods  in  the  season,  as  their 
nests  are  found  from  the  first  week  in  July  to  the  middle  of 
September.  In  1831  I  examined  several  nests,  and  from  the 
late  period  at  which  they  begin  to  breed  it  is  impossible  that 
they  can  ever  act  in  the  capacity  of  nurses  to  the  Cow 
'I'roopial.  This  procrastination  appears  to  bi  occasioned  by 
the  lack  of  sufficiently  nutritive  diet,  the  seeds  on  which  they 
principally  feed  not  ripening  usually  before  July. 


Note.  —  The  Black-hkaded  Goldfinch  {Spini/s  notatus), 
a  Mexican  bird,  is  credited  with  an  accidental  occurrence  in 
Kentucky. 


ig  loud  and 
lon  whining 

where  the y 
/'/,  'ntiiy  in'. 
',  uttered  in 
ther  twitter- 
rt'hile  pursu- 
as  they  shut 
1  to  gardens 
Linimer  and 
mil  shelling 
urhed  often 
it  their  con- 

They  have 
the  down  in 
silently  and 
hus  engaged 
ese  noxious 
gardens  by 
ower  seeds, 
it  their  use- 
fling  inju- 

ashing  and 
as  tender 
of  sjirings 

•n,  as  their 
middle  of 
id  from  the 
ossible  that 
the  Cow 
asioned  by 
which  they 


s   notatus'). 
:urrence    in 


PINE    SISKIN.  351 

PINE    SISKIN. 

PINE   FINCH.     FINE    LINNET. 
Sl'INUS    FINUS. 

Char.  Above,  olive  Iirown  or  dark  fla.xcn,  streaked  with  duskv  ; 
wings  and  tail  l)lack,  the  fcatlicrs  edged  witl)  yellow;  wings  with  two 
buttish  bars  ;  below  streaked  with  dusky  and  yellowish  white.  Length 
about  4^  inches. 

Xest.  Usually  in  a  deep  forest,  on  a  horizontal  branch  of  an  evergreen 
tree  20  to  40  feet  from  the  ground.  It  is  fairly  well  built,  as  a  rule, 
but  is  neither  as  compact  nor  graceful  as  the  Thistle  Bird's,  and  i>  com- 
posed of  various  materials,  though  generally  grass,  twigs,  and  pine-needles 
form  the  exterior,  while  the  lining  is  either  feathers  or  hair,  or  both. 

Eggs.  3-5  ;  pale  green  or  greenish  blue  spotted  with  light  reddish 
brown  and  lilac;  0.70  X  0.50. 

Our  acquaintance  with  this  little  northern  ('roldfinch  is  very 
unsatisfactory.  It  visits  the  Middle  States  in  Xoveml  i  fre- 
quents the  shady,  sheltered  borders  of  creeks  and  rivulets,  and 
is  particularly  fond  of  the  seeds  of  the  hemlock-tree.  Aunjiig 
the  woods,  where  these  trees  abound,  these  birds  assemble  in 
flocks,  and  contentedly  pass  away  the  winter.  Migrating  fi.r 
no  other  purpose  but  subsistence,  their  visits  are  necessarily 
desultory  and  uncertain.  My  friend  Mr.  Oakes.  of  Ipswich, 
has  seen  them  in  large  flocks  in  that  vicinity  in  winter.  With 
us  they  are  rare,  though  iheir  favorite  food  is  abundant.  They 
are  by  no  means  shy,  and  permit  a  near  approach  without  tak- 
ing alarm,  often  fluttering  among  the  branches  in  which  they 
feed,  hanging  sometimes  by  the  cones,  and  occasionally  utter- 
ing notes  very  similar  to  those  of  the  American  (loldfinch. 
Early  in  March  they  proceed  to  the  North,  and  my  friend 
Audubon  obser\'ed  them  in  families,  accompanied  by  th  ir 
young,  in  Labrador  in  the  month  of  July.  They  frequented 
low  thickets  in  the  vicinity  of  water,  and  were  extremely  fear- 
less and  gentle.  Their  summer  jilumage,  as  we  have  since 
also  found  in  the  Oregon  Territory,  where  they  abound  and 
breed,  is  entirely  similar  to  the  garb  in  which  they  visit  us  in 
the  winter,  with  the  sole  exception  that  the  yellow  of  the  wings- 
is  brighter. 


li 


!     I 


\  it 


!    Ii 


i 

t,    i 


»?!i 


.1     i 


It 


n2 


SINGING    HIRDS. 


'I'hey  sing  on  tlu-  wing  in  the  manner  of  the  C'loldfinch. 
Their  notes  are  clear,  Hvely,  and  mellow,  like  as  in  that  bird, 
but  still  sufficiently  distinct ;  they  tly  out  in  the  same  graceful, 
deep  cur\es,  emitting  also  the  common  call- note  at  every 
effort  to  ])roceed. 

The  historv  of  this  interesting;  bird  is  but  littlf  bt-tter  known  to- 
day  than  wiien  Xuttall  wrote.  Our  ignorance  is  partly  due  to  tiie 
irregular,  nomadic  habits  of  the  bird,  but  chiefly  because  its  favorite 
haunts  are  in  out-of-the-wav  places,  amid  the  deeper  recesses  of  the 
forests,  where  ivw  ol)servers  penetrate.  At  intervals  large  flocks 
visit  the  outskirts  of  settlements,  and  even  look  in  upon  the  vil- 
lages: but  these  are  merely  excursions  by  the  way  introduced  into 
the  migration  programme.  Its  habitat  is  now  given  as  '•  North 
America  in  general,  breeding  mostly  north  of  the  United  .States.*' 
In  the  east,  nests  have  been  found  in  New  ^■ork  .State  by  Dr.  C 
Hart  .Meniam  and  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher,  and  the  nest  and  eggs  have 
l)een  taken  twice  in  Massachusetts;  but  the  major  portion  of  the 
eastern  flocks  go  to  the  more  northern  portions  of  New  England 
and  beyond  before  '-cttling  down  for  the  summer. 

The  dates  usually  given  for  the  nesting  are  early  in  May;  but 
a  much  earlier  time  is  given  by  Dr.  A.  Leith  Adams,  an  Eng- 
lish naturalist  who  met  with  the  species  in  New  Brunswick.  In 
his  ••  Field  and  fairest  Rambles,"  he  writes  :  "  It  breeds  early,  and 
has  its  young  flying  before  the  first  summer  migrants  arrive  in 
April,  when  lart^e  flocks  may  be  observed  feeding  on  the  buds  of 
the  hawthorn  preparatory  to  their  departure  northward."  He  adds 
that  it  is  a  choice  cage-bird,  and  is  easily  tamed.  He  kept  some 
for  several  months,  and  when  liberated  they  all  returned  to  their 
cages  after  an  absence  of  several  days. 

The  biogra])liv  of  this  species  forms  an  interesting  chapter  in 
that  interesting  book.  *•  The  Land  Birds  and  Game  Birds  of  New 
England."  by  H.  D.  !Minot,  —  a  book,  by  the  way,  that  has  not 
reieived  the  reco<rnition  its  merit  deserves. 


'I 
■■\- 


.1 

L 

1 

Cioldfinch. 
n  that  bird, 
ne  graceful, 
tc    at    every 


■t"  known  to- 
y  due  to  the 
ic  its  favorite 
cesses  of  the 
hirge  flocks 
ipon  the  vii- 
roduced  into 
1  as  '■  North 
ited  States."' 
e  by  Dr.  C. 
:1  egtis  have 
rtion  of  the 
ew  K upland 

in  May  :  but 

lis.  an  Eng- 

inswick.     In 

early,  and 

s  arrive  in 

le  buds  of 

He  adds 

kept  some 

led  to  their 

chapter  in 
i"ds  of  New 
;it  has  not 


J 


-y- 


s^^^lJ^St^lfi 


(;OLDFINCH. 
Carduelis  cakduelis. 

Char.  Forehead  and  throat  crimson  ;  cheeks  and  lower  throat  white  ; 
crown  and  nape  black,  the  latter  being  bordered  by  a  narrow  line  ol 
white;  back  brown;  wings  black,  tipped  with  white  and  barred  with 
yellow;  tail-coverts  white  with  black  bases;  three  outer  tail-feathers 
black,  with  white  centrai  spots,  the  remainder  black,  tipped  with  white; 
breast  white,  banded  with  brownish  buff;  flanks  buffy ;  belly  and  under 
tail-coverts  white.     Lensjth  about  5  inches. 

iVt' /.  In  an  orchard  or  garden,  placed  in  a  fork  of  a  tree  or  bush  ;  a 
compact  and  neatly  made  structure  of  fine  grass  and  moss,  lined  with 
grass  and  plant  down,  etc. 

Ei^i^s.  4-6 :  dull  white  tinged  with  blue  or  green,  spotted  and  streaked 
with  purpli.-5h  brown  ;  070  X  0.50. 

This  European  songster  has  been  introduced  within  recent  years. 
and  though  increasing  slowly,  appears  to  he  thoroughly  naturalized. 

It  is  most  abundant  near  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  where  a  number  were 
set  at  liberty  in  1878,  but  examples  have  been  taken  in  oiher  States. 
A  nest  and  eggs  were  discovered  in  Caniliridijje  some  ten  years 
ago,  and  during  the  summer  of  iSyo  a  nest  was  taken  near 
Worcester,  .Mass. 

In  Great  Britain  it  is  ver\-  common,  and  breeds  north  to  Caith- 
ness, and  one  ne.st  has  been  taken  on  the  south  side  of  Skye. 

The  voung  are  fed  on  insects  and  larvae;  but  Mr.  Saunders  says 
"the  principal  food  of  the  Goldfinch  consists  of  seeds  of  the  thistle, 
knapweed,  groundsel,  dock,  and  other  plants." 

VOL.   r.  —  2-; 


354 


SINC;iN(;    lilRDS. 


?i 

/  i  - 

V: 

■f 


I 


><< 


If 


ili> 


Hi 


n 

f 


''  1 

>  ! 

• 

1 

1  n 

m 

i 

HOUSE    SIWRKOW. 

english  .spakkovv. 

Passer  domes'iui's. 

Char.  Generr.l  color  prav'sh  brown,  the  back  streaked  with  black  ;  a 
narrow  strijic  of  white  over  tin.-  cyo  ;  cliccks  with  patches  of  chestnut  and 
wliitc  ;  sides  and  neck  white  ;  throat  and  breast  black,  sometimes  washed 
with  chestnut;  wings  brown  with  white  bar;  tail  brown:  belly  dull  wiiite. 
Female:  paler,  without  the  black  throat-|)atch.     Length  about  0  inches. 

A'fs/.  Anywhere  and  of  any  material,  —  usually  a  bulky  affair,  roughly 
made  of  dry  grass  and  feathers. 

^j,::,'-s.  4-7  ;  grayish  white  speckled  with  rich  brown  and  pale  lavender  ; 
0.85  X  0.60. 

This  is  another  introduced  species:  but  about  i^s  naturalization 
there  is,  unfortunately,  no  doubt. 

The  history  of  the  introduction  of  this  bird,  and  its  relation  to 
American  agriculture,  is  exhaustively  treated  in  a  volume  nrepared 
by  Mr.  Waller  B.  Narrows,  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  C.  Hart 
MerriaiTi,  ornithologist  to  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  and 
issued  from  the  (Government  Printing  Office  at  Washinsrton  in 
1889.  From  it  we  lenrn  that  the  first  importation  of  this  Sparrow 
was  made  by  Hon.  Nicholas  Pike,  and  the  birds  were  liberated  in 
P>rooklyn,  N.  Y.,  in  185 1.  The  first  batch  did  not  thrive,  so  others 
—  about  a  hundred  -  were  brought  over  during  1852  and  1853.  In 
1854  Colonel  Rhodes,  of  Quebec,  brought  a  number  from  England 
and  liberated  sotne  in  Portland,  Me.,  the  remainder  being  taken 
to  Quebec.  During  the  following  ten  years  a  few  hundred  were 
brought  from  Europe  and  scattered  between  Portland  and  New 
York,  some  thirty  being  turned  out  on  Boston  Common.  About 
1869  a  thousand  were  taken  to  Philadelphia,  and  several  cities  in 
the  interior  received  each  a  few  pairs. 

From  these  imported  birds  have  sprung  the  hosts  of  "ruffians  in 
feathers "  that  have  taken  possession  of  every  town  and  village, 
from  Cape  Breton  to  Florida,  and  west  to  the  plains, 

A  few  pairs  were  taken  to  southern  (Greenland,  and  though  some 
lived  through  several  winters,  the  entire  dock  at  last  perished. 

Note.  —  The  European  Tree  Sparrow  {Passer  montaiins) 
has  also  been  introduced.  A  few  years  ago  a  number  were  liber- 
ated in  St.  Louis,  and  have  become  thoroughly  naturalized  there. 
This  bird  is  closely  related  to  the  House  Sparrow,  which  it  resembles 
in  appearance  and  in  habits.  The  Tree  Sparrow  has  not,  however, 
increased  so  rapidly  as  its  congener,  nor  proved  so  great  a  pest. 


h  black  ;  a 
lestnut  and 
les  washed 

dull  white. 

6  inches, 
air,  roughly 

e  lavender ; 


uralization 

relation  to 
e  nrcpared 
r.  "C.   Hart 
ilturc,    and 
hington  in 
is  Sparrow 
.lierated  in 
>,  so  others 
I  1853.     In 
n  England 
eing  taken 
idred  were 
and   New 
n.     About 
il  cities  in 

ruffians  in 
|nd  village, 

lough  some 
shed. 

inoittaims) 
l^vere  liber- 
jzed  there, 
resembles 
^,  however, 
a  pest. 


REDPOLL. 

LESSER   REDPOLL.     REDPOLL   LINNET. 
ACAN'JHIS    LlXAklA. 

CllAR.  Above,  brownish  gray  streaked  with  dusky;  rump  white, 
tinged  with  rose  pink  and  streaked  with  dusky;  forLliei.u  with  patch  of 
deep  carmine;  wings  dusky  brown  with  two  white  bars;  below,  white, 
sides  heavily  streaked  with  dusky  ;  chin  and  throat  dusky  ;  breast  deep 
rose  pink.  P>ill  extremely  acute  ;  in  winter  its  color  is  yellow  tii)pcd  with 
black,  but  in  summer  the  color  is  dull  blacki.sh.  (Female  differs  from 
male  only  in  lacking  the  red  tints  on  rump  and  breast.)  Length  4,'^  to  5 
inches. 

Nest.  In  a  low  tree  or  amid  a  tuft  of  grass  ;  coni])osed  of  dry  grass  and 
moss  lined  with  hair  or  feathers  or  plan!  down. 

Ei;^i{s.  4-6;  white  tinged  with  green  or  blue,  spotted  with  reddish 
brown  ;  0.65  X  0.50. 

These  elegant  birds,  which  only  pay  us  occasional  and 
transient  visits  at  distant  inter\-als,  are  inhabitants  of  the  whole 
Arctic  circle  to  the  confines  of  Siberia,  and  are  found  in  Kam- 
tschatka  and  (Greenland  as  well  as  the  colder  parts  of  Iuiro])e. 
Arriving  in  roving  flocks  from  the  northern  wilds  of  Canada, 
they  are  seen  at  times  in  the  western  parts  of  the  State  of  New 
York  with  the  fall  of  the  first  deep  snow,  and  occasionally  ])ro- 
ceed  eastward  to  the  very  city  of  New  York,  where  in  the 
depth  of  winter,  and  for  several  weeks,  they  have  been  seen 
gleaning  their  scanty  food  of  variotis  kinds  of  seeds  in  the 
gardens  of  the  town  and  suburbs.  Flocks  are  likewise  some- 
times seen  in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia  in  severe  winters, 
though  at  remote  periods ;  as  according  to  Mr.  Ord  they  have 
not   visited   that    part   of   Pennsylvania   since    the    winter  of 


i  'v 


35^ 


SINOIXG    IURI>S. 


t^ 


'  ■■  I. 


:J        M 


II. 


t 


I    m 


« 


i  i    ' 


;,_.      I.    .        ... 

i 

feiy«i 

1813-14.  They  api)i;;ir  very  iinsuspicioua  while  feeding  in  the 
gardens,  or  on  the  seeds  of  the  alder-bush,  one  of  their  favor- 
ite repasts,  and  thus  engaged  allow  a  near  approach  while 
searching  for  their  food  in  every  ])osture,  and  sometimes  head 
dcjwnwards.  They  are  also  fond  of  the  seeds  of  the  pine,  the 
linden,  and  rajie,  and  in  the  winter  sometimes  content  them- 
selves even  with  the  buds  of  the  alder.  Wilson  believed  he 
heard  this  si)ecies  utter  a  few  interrupted  notes,  but  nothing 
satisfactory  is  known  of  its  vocal  powers.  Mr.  Ord  remarks 
that  their  call  much  resembles  that  of  the  common  Yellow 
IJird,  to  which,  indeed,  they  are  allied.  They  are  said  to 
breed  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  and  to  select  the  heath 
and  furze  for  the  situation  of  their  nests,  though  they  more 
commonly  choose  alder-bushes  and  the  branches  of  the  pine. 

According  to  Richardson,  these  birds  are  among  the  few 
hardy  and  permanent  residents  m  the  fur  countries,  where  they 
may  be  seen  in  the  coldest  weather  on  the  banks  of  lakes  and 
rivers,  hoj)ping  among  the  reeds  and  carices  or  clmging  to  their 
Stalks.  They  are  numerous  throughout  the  year  even  in  the 
most  northern  districts,  and  from  the  rarity  of  their  migrations 
into  the  United  States  it  is  obvious  that  they  are  influenced  by 
no  ordinary  causes  to  evacuate  the  regions  in  which  they  are 
bred.  Famine,  in  all  probability,  or  the  scarcity  of  food,  urges 
them  to  advance  towards  the  South.  It  is  certain  that  they  do 
not  forsake  their  natal  regions  to  seek  shelter  from  the  cold. 
This  season,  by  the  7th  or  Sth  of  November  (1833),  before 
the  occurrence  of  any  extraordinary  cold  weather,  they  arrived 
in  this  vicinity  (Cambridge,  Mass.)  in  considerable  flocks,  and 
have  not  paid  a  visit  to  this  quarter  before  to  my  knowledge 
for  10  or  12  years.  They  now  regularly  assemble  in  the  birch- 
trees  every  morning  to  feed  on  their  seeds,  in  which  employ- 
ment they  are  so  intent  that  it  is  possible  to  advance  to  the 
slender  trees  in  which  they  are  engaged  and  shake  them  off  by 
surprise  before  they  think  of  taking  wing.  They  hang  upon 
the  twigs  with  great  tenacity,  and  move  about  while  feeding  in 
reversed  postures,  like  the  Chickadees.  After  being  shot  at 
they  only  pass  on  to  the  next  tree  and  resume  their  feeding  as 


KEUrOLL. 


357 


iig  in  the 
uir  tlivor- 
ch  while 
lies  head 
pine,  the 
lit  thcm- 
Ueved  he 
t  nothing 
remarks 
n   VcUow 
i  said   to 
the  heath 
icy   more 
le  i)ine. 
r  the  tew 
here  they 
lakes  and 
ig  to  their 
en  in  the 
nitrations 
enced  by 
they  are 
lod,  urges 
they  do 
the  cold, 
before 
y  arrived 
cks,  and 
nowledge 
ic  birch- 
employ- 
ee to  the 
m  off  by 
:ing  upon 
eding  in 
shot  at 
ieding  as 


before.  They  have  a  (|uailing  call  perfectly  similar  to  that 
of  the  Yellow  iiird  ( /'/vV/i,'///!/  /n's/i's),  tioce  /icu'c,  or  ts/u'-jui-; 
and  when  crowtli  ig  together  in  llight  make  a  (onfused  chirj)- 
ing  77i'//'//A'//7u'// 7?i7/ 77t'//,  with  a  rattling  noi^c,  and  some- 
times go  <;l'f  with  a  simultaneous  twitter.  Occasionally  tlu-y 
ilescentl  from  their  favorite  birches  and  pick  up  sunllowir 
seeds  and  those  of  the  various  weedy  Choiopodittms  growing 
in  wastes.  At  length  they  seemed  attracted  to  the  pines  by 
the  example  of  the  Crossbills,  and  were  busily  emjjloyed  in 
collecting  their  seeds.  As  the  weather  becomes  colder  they 
also  roost  in  these  sheltering  evergreens;  and  confused  (locks 
are  seen  whirling  about  capriciously  in  (juest  of  fare,  sometimes 
descending  ow  the  fruit-trees  to  feed  on  their  buds  by  way  of 
variety.  Though  thus  urgeil  from  their  favorite  regions  in  the 
north,  there  appeared  no  obvious  reason  for  their  movements, 
as  we  found  them  fat  and  not  driven  to  migrate  trom  any 
imminent  necessity. 

In  XuttalTs  day  but  two  forms  of  Redpoll  were  recognized  by 
naturalists, —  tinaria  and  canescens  {=z  c.vi7ipes)\  but  now  there 
are  five,  -or  six,  if  we  count  the  hyj)otlietical  brewstet it.  Similar 
as  these  appear  to  the  casual  observer,  an  expert  can  readily  divide 
them  when  examples  of  the  different  races  are  compared,  tliou.udi  it 
is  sometimes  difficult  to  refer  a  specimen  with  accuracy  unless  so 
compared. 

The  habitat  of  true  liitaria  is  now  given  as  •■  northern  portions 
of  northern  hemispliere,  in  Nortli  America:  south  in  winter  to 
Kansas  and  \'irginia." 


I 


NoTi;.  —  HoLHffiLL's  Rkdi'oli,  {.Iciint/iis  linaria  JiolbcelUi)  is 
larger  than  the  type,  with  a  proportionately  longer  bill.  It  is 
usually  restricted  to  the  northern  coasts  of  Europe  and  Asia,  but 
examples  have  been  taken  in  Alaska,  Quebec,  Massachusetts,  and 
New  York. 

The  Greatkk  Reoi'OIX  {Acanthis  linaria  rostrata)  is  still 
larger,  —  iengtli  •)%  to  5U  inches.  —  and  the  colors  are  darker, 
with  the  under  parts  more  broadly  striped.  It  is  found  in  southern 
Greenland  in  summer,  and  in  winter  migrates  to  New  England, 
Manitoba,  and  northern  Illinois. 


f  I 


n 


i  . 


f  i 


u 


i                              i 

HI 

'il 

'      :ft 

''V 

I       I 


1 

pi 

i 

to 

HOARV    Kl<:i)l»ULL. 

MKAI.V    KKDI'OLL. 

ACANTHIS    HORNI.MANIl    l.XIMPKS. 

Thak.  Male:  ahove.  d.ill  wliitc  streaked  with  dusky  brown  ;  crown 
crimson  ;  riinip  wliitc  washeil  with  pink  ;  wings  and  tail  dusky  brown 
witli  two  while  bars;  l)clow,  dull  white  sparsely  streaked  with  duskv  : 
chin  and  throat  duskv;  breast  delicate  rose  pink.  Female:  similar,  but 
without  phik  on  breast  and  rump.     Length  5  inches. 

Similar  to  A.  linariii,  but  colore  ,'iler,  —  the  brown  largely  replaced  by 
gray,  and  the  re^l  of  a  pakr  sIkkK-  and  more  restricted. 

S'est.  In  a  low  tree  or  on  the  ground  ;  comjiosed  of  grass  and  twigs 
lined  with  feathers 

Egi::s.  3-5;  white  tinged  with  blue  or  green,  spotted  with  reddish 
brown  ;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  species,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  last,  is  met  with  partly 
in  the  same  remote  boreal  regions  in  the  summer,  but  is  of 
much  more  rare  occurrence  ;  it  is  also  found  in  the  territory 
of  Oregon,  and  stragglers  have  been  obtained  as  far  south  as 
New  Jersey  and  New  York.  In  Maine  it  is  less  rare.  These 
birds  have  a  note  very  similar  to  the  last  species,  but  distinct. 
They  are  full  of  activity  and  caprice  while  engaged  in  feeding, 
making  wide  circles  and  deej)  untlulations  in  their  flight.     Like 


T«>\vin;i:. 


359 


Titmice  also,  thoy  fn-qiicntly  feed  and  hiiu-;  to  the  twigs  it) 
rcvcrNcil  jK>.«.ture!>.  , 

This  form  sunimers  in  tlic  Arctic  regions,  h-mI  in  wiiUcr  nii;(rati'.s 
.Sf)utli\var(l.  ;i  hw  cxninpl.s  rfuiiiing  tlic  ikiiIkiu  bitr-lcr  i>l  tlic 
L  ilitt.(l  St.Ucs.  

Notf:.  —  The  (Ikki.XI.am)  Ki.di'OM.  {Acanthis  horttcmaunif) 

is  lari4Lr  tli.in  <M77//t'j-,  —  length  5,'j  to  (>;j  iiu  lies,  it  l)ici(ls  in 
(irLunland  aiul  lli-j  e.istcrn  part  ot  Arctic  Aincrica,  and  in  winter 
ranges  as  far  south  as  Labrador. 

r.Ri  wsti:r's  Linm.t  {.Uani/iis  bre^i'stcrii)  is  a  "Ridpoll'' 
witliout  A\\\  red  on  its  poll :  it  dit'i\rs  alio  Iroin  tiie  other  lorins  in 
lacking;  lIu-  du>.ky  spot  on  the  tiuo.it  anil  in  li.ivin;;  a  pdilion  nf  its 
plumage  tinijcd  with  yellow.  The  type  specimen  was  taken  .it 
Waltliam,  M.iss.,  in  1S70,  and  remains  uni(|ue.  Tlie  A.  O.  U.  have 
plaeed  tlie  name  in  tliat  "lock-up"'  for  suspicious  characters,  the 
"  hypothetical  list." 


wn  ;  crown 
sky  lirown 
ith  (hisky  : 
imilar,  but 

[ephiccd  by 

and  twigs 

Ith   reddish 

rith  partly 
but  is  of 

territory 

south  as 
.     l^hese 

distinct. 

feeding, 
lit.     Like 


towiihf:. 

GROUXn    KOlilN.     CHEW  INK. 
PH'n.O    IKVlHklJl'HIHAI.MLS. 

Thar.  Tll.nck  with  white  belly  and  bay  sides  and  vent  ;  outer  tail- 
feuthci>  partlv  wiiite  ;  white  spot  on  wing;  iris  red.  Female  and  young 
tawny  brusvn  wlicre  the  adult  male  is  black. 

Xcst.  Near  the  margin  of  woodland  or  in  an  overgrown  pasture  ; 
usually  placed  on  the  grouiui  and  concealed  in  a  tiit't  of  grass  or  l)ru>h- 
heap,  or  under  a  lorr  cr  bush,  —  sometimes  fastened  to  a  low  '"ash  ;  loosely 
made  of  dry  leaves,  grape-vines,  weed-stems,  and  gras>,  lined  with  tine 
grass,  roots,  or  pine-needles. 

A^TiT'f'  4"6;  dull  white  thickly  marked  with  fine  spots  of  wariu,  reddish 
brown  and  lilac;  sometimes  the  marks  are  bolder ;  0.95  X  0.75 

This  is  a  very  common,  hmnble,  and  iinsuspirioiis  bird, 
dwelling  commonly  in  thick  dark  woods  and  their  borders, 
flying  low,  and  frequenting  thickets  near  streams  of  water, 
where  it  spends  much  time  in  scratching  up  the  withered 
leaves  for  worms  and  their  larvre.  and  is  particularly  fond  of 
wire-worms  (or  /////),  as  well  as  various  kinds  of  seeds  and 
gravel.  Its  rustling  scratch  among  the  leafy  carpet  of  the 
forest  is  often  the  only  indication  of  its  presence,  excepting 


36o 


SINGING    lURDS. 


1^^ 


^ 


now  an<l  then  a  call  upon  its  mate  {/(m'-n'n;  t(nv-7vce,  toio- 
7i'tt'ij,  with  which  it  is  almost  ( onstanlly  associated.  While 
thus  busily  engaged  in  foraging  for  subsistence,  it  may  be 
watched  and  apijroached  without  showing  any  alarm  ;  and 
taking  a  look  often  at  the  observer,  without  susi)icion,  it 
scratches  up  the  leaves  as  before.  This  call  of  recognition  is 
uttered  in  a  low  and  somewhat  sad  tone,  and  if  not  soon 
answered  it  becomes  louder  and  interrogatorv.  /in^'-ttu't-  towee  f 
and  terminates  often  with  towtit.  'i'hese  binls  are  accused 
of  sometimes  visitmg  the  pea- fields  to  feed,  but  occasion  no 
sensible  damage. 

In  the  pairing  season  and  throughout  the  p.^riod  of  incuba- 
tion the  male  fre(juently  mounts  to  the  top  of  some  bush 
amidst  the  thickets  where  he  usually  passes  the  time,  and  from 
hence  in  a  clear  and  sonorous  voice  chants  forth  his  simple 
guttural  and  monotonous  notes  for  an  hour  or  so  at  a  time, 
while  his  faithful  mate  is  confined  to  her  nest.  I'his  ([uaint 
and  somewhat  pensive  song  often  soumls  like  f<:h\i  -iSih'c  tc  ti 
tc  tc  ti',  or  'l'iii--ici  t(i-,  tr  fr  ' tr  'tr.  —  the  latter  part  a  sort  of 
quaint  and  deliberate  (juivering  trill  ;  sometimes  it  sounds  like 
'htii  tsherr  " rh  'r/i.  rrh  '7.'f,  then  V'tcW  /uvr  /'  fs/ter'  r' r,  also 
€t  se ya,  \ti  \\a  \\ti  \\a  \\(j :  the  latter  notes,  attemjned  to  be 
expressed  by  whistled  and  contracted  consonant  syllables,  are 
trilled  with  this  sound. 

(iround  Robins,  sometimes  also  called  Ts/i('-7c>i>ik  and  Pee- 
7t'///X',  from  another  of  their  notes,  are  general  inhabitants  of 
Canada  and  the  United  States  even  to  the  base  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  and  the  peninsula  of  Florida,  in  all  of  which  regions, 
except  the  last,  with  Louisiana  and  the  contiguous  countries, 
they  pass  the  summer  and  rear  their  young,  migrating,  how- 
ever, from  the  Northern  and  Middle  States  in  October,  and 
returning  again  about  the  middle  or  close  of  April,  according 
to  the  advancement  of  the  season,  at  which  time  ^Iso  the 
males  usually  precede  the  arrival  of  their  mates.  They  pass 
the  winter  generally  to  the  south  of  Pennsylvania,  and  are  then 
very  abundant  in  all  the  milder  States  in  the  Union. 

They  are  said  to  show  some  address  at  times  in  concealing 


m 


'{•f,  /f'TC- 

While 
may  be 
11  ;  aiul 
cion,  it 
nition  is 
ot  soon 
■  tin^<cc  ? 
accused 
usion  no 

"  incuba- 
ne  bush 
I  ml  from 
s  simple 
I  a  time, 
is  ([uaint 
.nice  ic  tc 
a  sort  of 
m»ls  like 
/•';■,  also 
(1  to  be 
bles,  are 

hnd  Pce- 
itants  of 
|e  Rocky 

regions, 
[.luntries, 
iig,  iiow- 
ber.  and 

•cording 
blso  the 

lev   pass 

lire  then 


TOWHEE. 


36  r 


« 


their  nest,  which  is  fixed  on  the  groimd  in  a  dry  and  elevated 
bituatiun  and  sunk  beneath  the  surface  among  the  fallen  leaves, 
sometimes  under  the  shelter  of  a  small  bush,  thicket,  or  brier. 
Accurdini(  to  the  ct^nvenience  of  the  site,  it  is  formed  of  differ- 
ent materials,  sometimes,  according  to  W  ilson,  being  made  of 
leaves,  strips  of  grape-vine  bark,  lined  with  fine  stalks  of  <iry 
gra.ss,  and  occasionally  in  ]jart  hidden  with  hay  or  herl)age. 
Most  of  the  nests  in  this  vicinity  are  made  in  solitarv  dry  jmie 
woods  without  any  other  protection  than  some  small  bush  or 
accidental  fallen  leaves ;  and  the  external  materials,  rather 
substantial,  are  usually  slightly  agglutinated  strii)s  of  red-cedar 
bark,  or  withered  grass  with  a  neat  lining  of  die  same  ami 
fallen  pine  leaves ;  the  lining  sometimes  made  wholly  of  the 
latter.  The  nest  is  also  at  times  elevated  from  the  ground  by 
a  layer  of  coarse  leaf-stalks  such  as  those  of  the  hickory.  The 
first  brood  are  raised  early  in  June,  and  a  second  is  ot'ten 
obser\-ed  in  the  month  of  July  ;  but  in  this  jiart  of  New  laig- 
land  they  seldom  raise  more  than  one.  The  pair  show  great 
solicitude  for  the  safety  of  their  young,  lluttering  in  the  path 
and  pretending  lameness  with  loud  chirping  when  their  nest  is 
too  closely  examined. 

The  eastern  form  of  the  Towhee  is  not  found  west  of  Minnesota, 
Kansas,  and  Texas.  In  the  more  northern  and  unsettled  portions 
of  Xew  Enjcland  it  is  very  rare  or  absent.  It  is  common  in  Man- 
itoba and  southern  Ontario,  but  rare  in  yiicbec  ;  and  one  example, 
captured  near  .St.  John,  N.  B..  in  18S1,  is  the  only  known  instance 
of  its  occurrence  in  the  Maritime  Provinces. 

The  flocks  migrate  in  winter  to  the  Southern  States,  settling  in 
\'irginia  and  .southward. 


Note.  —  The  White-eyed  Towhee  {Pipilo  oytlirophthalnnis 
alleni  differs  from  the  northern  race  chiefly  in  ljein<i  of  somewhat 
.smaller  size,  and  in  the  iris  being  white  instead  of  red. 

It  was  discovered  during  the  spring  of  1879  by  .Mr.  C.J.  .May- 
nard  in  Florida,  and  is  .-.aid  to  be  distributed  along  the  coast  north- 
ward to  South  Caix>lina. 


"^1 


[icealing 


h! 


m' 


•  ■-f 


B 


i 

1 

M 

/( 

!  ' 

li 

i 

lb 

fe 

CARDINAL. 

REDBIRD. 
Cardixalis  CARDIXALIS. 

Char.  Head  with  conspicuous  crest.  Male :  above,  brisiht  vennf- 
Jion.  shaded  with  gray  on  the  back;  beneath,  paler;  forehead  and  throat 
black.  Female:  above,  olive  gray;  beneath,  bufify.  Young  similar  to 
female,  but  duller.     Length  about  S  to  S}^  inches. 

.\V.fA  In  a  variety  of  situations,  most  frequently  amid  a  thicket  of 
brambles  or  in  a  low  tree;  loosely  made  of  twigs,  strips  of  grape-vine, 
dry  grass,  weed-stems,  lined  with  fine  grass  or  roots,  sometimes  with 
hair. 

E,i:^'-s.  3-5 ;  dull  white  or  tinged  with  blue,  green,  or  buff;  spotted 
with  reddish  brown  and  lilac;   lOO  X  0.75. 

These  splendid  and  not  uncommon  songsters  chiefly  reside 
in  the  warmer  and  more  temperate  parts  of  the  United  States 
from  New  York  to  Florida,  and  a  few  stragglers  even  proceed 
as  far  to  the  north  as  Salem  in  Massachusetts.  They  also 
inhabit  the  Mexican  provinces,  and  are  met  with  south  as  far 
as  Carthagena  ;  adventurously  crossing  the  intervening  ocean, 
they  are  likewise  numerous  in  the  little  temperate  Bermuda 
islands,  but  do  not  apparently  exist  in  any  of  the  West  Indies. 
As  might  be  supposed,  from  the  range  already  stated,  the  Red- 
binls  are  not  uncommon  throughout  Louisiana,  Missouri,  and 
Arkansas  Territor)'.     Most  of  those  which  pass  the  suminer  in 


CARDINAL. 


V^l 


isiht  venni- 

and  throat 

similar  to 

thicket  of 
Igrape-vine, 
[times  with 

|ff;  spotted 

[fly  reside 
;d  States 
proceed 
'hey  also 
Ith  as  far 
[g  ocean. 
iKermuda 
Ft  Indies, 
the  Red- 
)uri,  and 
Immer  in 


tilt   cooler  and  Middle  States  retire  to  the  South  at  the  com- 
mencement of  winter  ;  though   a  few  linger  in  the  sheltered 
swamps  of  Pennsylvania  and  near  the  shores  of  the   Delaware 
almost  through  the  winter.     They  also,  at  this  season,  probably 
assemble  towards  the  sea-coast  from  the  west,  in  most  of  the 
Southern  States,  where  roving  and  skulking  timid  families  are 
now  seen  flitting  silently  through  thickets  and  swampy  woods, 
eager  alone  to  glean  a  scanty  subsistence,  and  defend  them- 
selves  from    prowling  enemies.     At  all   times,    however,    they 
appear  to  have  a  predilection  for  watery  groves  and  shaded 
nnining  stream>.  abounding  with  evergreens  and  fragrant  mag- 
nolias, in  which  they  are  so  frequent  as  to  be  almost  concomi- 
tant  with  the   scene.     But   though  they   usually   live   only  in 
families  or  pairs,  and  at  all  times  disperse  into  these  selective 
groups,  yet  in  severe  weather,  at  sunset,  in  South  Carolina.  I 
obser\ed  a  flock  passing  to  a  roost  in  a  neighboring  swamp 
and  bushy  lagoon,  which  continued,  in  lengthened  file,  to  fly 
over  my  head  at  a  considerable  height  for  more  than  twenty 
minutes  together.     The  beautiful  procession,  illumined  by  the 
last  rays  of  the  setting  sun,  was  incomparably  splendid  as  the 
shifting  shadow}-  light  at  quick  intervals  flashed   upon    their 
brilliant  liver)-.     They  had  been  observed  to  pass  in  this  man- 
ner to  their  roost  for  a  considerable  time,  and,  at  daybreak, 
they  were  seen  again  to  proceed  and  disperse  for  subsistence. 
How  long  this  timid  and  gregarious  habit  continues,  I  cannot 
pretend  to  say  :  but  by  the  first  week  in  February  the  song  of 
the  Redbird  was  almost  daily  heard.     As  the  season  advances, 
roving  pairs,  living,  as  it  were,  only  with  and  for  each  other,  flit 
from  place  to  place  ;  and  following  also  their  favorite  insect  or 
vegetable  fare,  many  proceed  back  to  the  same  cool  region  in 
which  they  were  bre<l.  and  from  which  they  were  reluctantly 
driven  ;  while  others,  impelled  by  interest,  caprice,  and  adven- 
ture, seek  to  establish  new  families  in  the  most  remote  limits  of 
their  migration.     Some  of  these  more  restless  wanderers  occa- 
sionally, though  rarely,  favor  this  part  of  New  luigland  with  a 
visit.     After  listening  with  so  much  delight  to  the  lively  fife  of 
the  splendid  Cardinal,  as  I  travelled  alone  through  the  deep  and 


364 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


f 


J  ■•:  I 


I 

J     ( 

i      i 

,i  ; 


t 


i!                 « 

U:              ^ 

''                ^i 

::        i 

t  < 


wild  solitudes  which  prevail  over  the  Southern  States,  and  bid, 
as  I  thought,  jK-rhaps  an  eternal  adieu  to  the  sweet  voice  of  my 
charming  com)janions,  what  was  my  surprise  and  pleasure,  on 
the  7th  of  May,  to  hear,  for  the  first  time  in  this  State,  and  in 
the  Jiotanic  (larden,  above  an  hour  together,  the  lively  and 
loud  song  of  this  exquisite  vocalist,  whose  voice  rose  above 
every  rival  of  the  feathered  race,  anil  rung  almost  in  echoes 
through  the  blooming  grove  in  which  he  had  chosen  his  re- 
treat. In  the  Southern  States,  where  these  birds  everywhere 
breed,  they  become  familiarly  attached  to  gardens,  which,  as 
well  as  cornfields,  afford  them  a  ready  means  of  subsistence  ; 
they  are  also  fond  of  the  seeds  of  most  of  the  orchartl  fruits, 
and  are  said  occasionally  to  prey  upon  bees. 

The  lay  of  the  Cardinal  is  a  loud,  mellow,  and  pleasingly 
varied  whistle,  delivered  with  ease  and  energy  for  a  consider- 
able time  together.  To  give  it  full  effect,  he  chooses  the  sum- 
mit of  some  lofty  branch,  and  elevatmg  his  melodious  voice  in 
powerful  as  well  as  soothing  and  touching  tones,  he  listens, 
delighted  as  it  were,  with  the  powers  of  his  own  music,  at 
intervals  answered  and  encouraged  by  the  tender  responses  of 
his  mate.  It  is  thus  the  gilded  hours  of  his  existence  pass 
away  in  primeval  delight,  until  care  and  necessity  break  in 
upon  his  contemi)lative  reveries,  and  urge  him  again  to  pursue 
the  sober  walks  of  active  life. 

The  song  of  the  Redbird,  like  that  of  so  many  others, 
though  possessed  of  great  originality,  often  consists  in  part  of 
favorite  borrowed  and  slightly  altered  phrases.  It  would  be 
a  difficult  and  fruitless  task  to  enumerate  all  the  native  notes 
delivered  by  this  interesting  songster  ;  a  few  may  be  perhai:)S 
excused  by  those  who  wish,  in  their  rural  walks,  to  be  made,  in 
any  way,  acquainted  with  the  language  of  the  feathered  vocal- 
ists that  surround  them.  All  the  tones  of  the  Cardinal  are 
whistled  much  in  the  manner  of  the  human  voice.  Late  in 
February,  while  travelling  in  Alabama,  I  heard  one  crying 
woolit,  wolit  7Volit  wolit,  then  in  a  quicker  tone  hiitsh  butsh 
butsh  hfitsh,  and  Ushooway  tshoo'iiHjy  tsJuunuay.  At  another 
time   the  song  was   ^ivit  d'uut,   ^t'ei'i ;  then   tshevi  tshere  ^feii, 


\ 


CARDINAL 


365 


and  bid, 
(ice  of  my 
■asure,  on 
te,  and  in 
ivt'ly  and 
3se  above 
in  echoes 
Ml  his  re- 
verywhere 
which,  as 
Insistence  ; 
lard  iruits, 

pleasingly 

consider- 
3  the  sum- 
is  voice  in 
he  listens, 

music,  at 
sponses  of 

ence  pass 
break  in 

to  pursue 

[ly  others, 
n   part  of 
would  be 
ive  notes 
perhajis 
made,  in 
led  vocal- 
•(linal  are 
Late  in 
le   crying 
'tsh  hutsh 
another 
hei>e  ''feu, 


'-li'hoit  \ohoii  'ivhoit  'tl'i'i  (the  ''whoit  an  exact  human  whistle, 
anil  the  ten  tenderly  emphatic).  Another  bird  called  tco  tio 
ti'o,  tshooi'  (sliooc  tsliooe  tshooe,  then  teo  tco  tfo  tco  alone,  or 
'luoit  '7i'dit  'ivoit  Hooit,  with  the  last  word  tlelivered  slower,  and 
in  a  sinking,  delicately  plaintive  tone.  These  phrases  were 
also  answered  in  sympathy  by  the  female,  at  a  little  distance 
w\i  the  meandering  brook  where  they  were  engaiyed  in  collect- 
ing their  food.  In  Florida,  about  the  12th  of  March,  I  heard 
a  very  fine  Redbird  singing  ''lOhittoo  wittoo  ichioo  'lindJoo. 
Pie  began  low,  almost  in  a  whisper,  but  very  clearly  articu- 
lated, and  gradually  raised  his  voice  to  loudness,  in  the  manner 
of  the  Nightingale.  He  now  changed  the  strain  into  'r/r///, 
ii<ilt  -ii'ilt  wilt  wilt ;  then  'lictii  tshooe  'ishdiH'  tshooe  tshooe, 
afterwards  '  ///'  I'ietu,  and  'ricta  tu  tii,  then  varying  'tshooee, 
etc..  \v  ;i  lower  key.  On  approaching  this  bird,  to  see  and 
hear  hiui  more  distinctly,  he  exhibited  his  anger  by  scoUling  in 
a  hoarse  tone  almost  like  that  of  a  squirrel,  and  from  the  sea- 
son, and  absence  of  respondence  in  the  female,  I  imagine  he 
already  had  a  nest  in  the  neighboring  thicket.  The  bird,  whif:h 
frequented  the  Botanic  (larden  for  several  days,  in  the  morn- 
ing sang  fearlessly  and  loudly,  but  at  other  times  the  pair  hid 
themselves  amongst  the  thickest  bushes,  or  descended  to  the 
ground  to  feed  among  the  grass  and  collect  insects  and  worms  ; 
now  and  then  however,  in  an  undertone,  as  if  afraid  of  attract- 
ing notice,  he  whispered  to  his  mate  ten  teii  feu,  -coit,  Wcoit 
'-woit,  elevating  his  tone  of  recognition  a  little  at  the  close  of 
the  call,  and  going  over  other  of  the  usual  phrases  in  the  same 
whispering  and  slenderly  rising  voice.  About  the  4th  of  July, 
the  same  pair,  apparently,  paid  us  a  parting  visit,  and  the  male 
sang  with  great  energy,  7r''  t7C'\  'wi'to  ''weto  'loeto  'weto  'weto 
7oait.  then  waiti'ip  7iHiitfip  laaitiip  7i>aitfip,  t^ho-w  tshow  tslu'm' 
tshow  tshow.  On  whistling  any  of  these  notes  within  hearing 
of  the  Cardinal,  a  response  is  almost  certain,  as  this  affectionate 
recognition  is  frequently  answered  by  the  female.  His  phrase 
may  also  be  altered  at  will,  by  whistling  some  other  than  that 
which  he  repeats,  as  he  often  immediately  answers  in  the  call 
he  hears,  sujiposing  it  to  be  that  of  his  approachuig  mate. 


m 


366 


SINGIXG    r.IKDS. 


W 


IJ: 


(IJ 


|i: 


I!,-    J   J 


On  their  arrival  in  the  Middle  States,  in  spring,  violent  ron- 
tests  sometimes  ensue  between  the  unmated  and  jealous  males. 
When  the  dispute  is  for  the  present  closetl,  the  pair,  probably 
for  greater  security,  and  dreading  a  recurring  ([uarrel  of  doubt- 
ful issue,  wander  off  to  a  remote  distance  from  their  usual 
abode,  and  in  this  way,  no  doubt,  occasionally  visit  countries 
but  little  frequented  by  the  rest  of  their  s])ecies.  Marly  in 
May,  it  seems,  in  Pennsylvania,  according  to  Wilson,  they 
begin  to  i)repare  their  nests,  which  are  often  j^laccd  in  an  ever- 
green bush,  cedar,  laurel,  or  holly.  They  u>>ually  raise  two 
broods  in  the  season.  As  they  are  so  easily  domesticated  im- 
mediately after  being  caught  in  trap  cages,  it  is  unnecessan,"  to 
raise  them  from  the  nest.  By  this  kind  of  unnatural  confine- 
ment, the  brilliant  color  of  the  male  is  found  sometimes  to 
fade  until  it  becomes  of  a  pale  whitish  red.  They  live,  how- 
ever, long  in  confinement,  and  an  instance  is  known  of  one 
which  had  survived  for  21  years.  In  the  cage,  they  have  not 
that  variety  of  song  which  they  exhibit  in  their  native  wilds  : 
and  this,  judging  from  the  frequent  rei)etition  of  the  same 
phrase,  would  appear  to  be  a  monotonous  performance,  if  the 
variety  of  expression,  tone,  and  key  did  not  perpetually  relieve 
and  enhance  the  character  of  the  lay.  His  song  also  con- 
tinues for  6  or  8  months  in  the  year,  antl  is,  even,  as  among 
the  Thrushes,  more  lively  in  wet  weather,  the  sadness  of 
Nature,  softening  and  soothing  the  tender  vocalist  into  a  lively, 
pathetic,  and  harmonious  revery.  So  highly  were  these  birds 
esteemed  for  their  melody  that,  according  to  (iemelli  Careri. 
the  Spaniards  of  Havanna,  in  a  time  of  public  distress  and 
scarcity,  bought  so  many  of  these  birds,  with  which  a  vessel 
was  partly  freighted,  from  Florida,  that  the  sum  expended,  at 
10  dollars  apiece,  amounted  to  no  less  than  i<S,ooo  dollars! 
Indeed,  Latham  admits  that  the  notes  of  our  Cardinal  ••  are 
almost  equal  to  those  of  the  Nightingale,"  the  sweetest  feath- 
ered minstrel  of  Kurope.  The  style  of  their  performance  is, 
however,  wholly  different.  The  bold,  martial  strains  of  the 
Redbird,  though  relieved  by  tender  and  exquisite  touches, 
pobaebs  not  the   enchanting  pathos,  the   elevated  and  varied 


i 


W 


EVENING    GROSBEAK. 


367 


lent  <on- 
)U.s  males, 
probably 
of  (loubt- 
leir  usual 
countries 
Early  in 
son,   they 
1  an  ever- 
raise  two 
cated  im- 
cessan,'  to 
1  confine- 
letimes  to 
live,  how- 
vn  of  one 
■  have  not 
ive  wilds  ; 
the   same 
nee,  if  the 
.11)-  relieve 
also  con- 
as  among 
adness    of 
o  a  lively, 
lese  birds 
i  Careri. 
tress  and 
a  vessel 
nded,  at 
dollars  ! 
inal  '■  are 
:est  feath- 
mance  is, 
is  of  the 
touches, 
d   varied 


It 


expression  of  the  far-famed  Philomel,  nor  yet  tho>e  contrasted 
tones,  which,  in  the  solemn  stillness  of  the  growing  niglit,  fall 
at  times  into  a  soothing  whisper,  or  slowly  rise  and  quicken 
into  a  loud  and  cheering  warble.  A  strain  of  almost  senti- 
mental tendcme::»s  and  sadness  per\'ades  by  turn^  the  song  of 
the  Nightingale;  it  flows  like  a  torrent,  or  dies  away  like  in 
echo  ;  his  varied  ecstasies  poured  to  the  pale  moonbeams, 
now  meet  with  no  re»fx>nse  but  the  sighing  /ephyi  or  the  ever- 
murmuring  brook.  'I'he  notes  of  our  Cardinal  are  as  full  of 
hilarity  as  of  tender  expression  ;  his  whistling  call  is  uttered  in 
the  broad  glare  of  day,  and  is  heard  predominant  over  most  of 
the  feathered  choir  by  which  he  is  surrounded.  His  respond- 
ing mate  is  the  perpetual  companion  of  all  his  joys  and  cares  ; 
simple  and  content  in  his  attachment,  he  is  a  stranger  to 
capricious  romance  of  feeling,  and  the  shades  of  melancholy, 
however  feeble  and  transient,  find  no  harbor  in  his  preoc- 
cupied affections. 

The  Cardinal  occurs  sparingly  in  southern  New  Kiiglcuul.  .md  it 
has  been  occasionially  seen  in  Massacluisetts  and  nortliwani.  'l"\vo 
examples  visited  Halifax,  N.  S..  in  1871.  It  is  quite  common  in 
Ohio,  and  has  been  taken,  across  the  lake,  in  Ontario,  and  westward 
to  Iowa. 


EVENING     GROSBEAK. 

CfXrCXriHRAUSTES    VESPERIINUS, 

Char.  Dusky  olivaceous,  phading  to  ycllowisli  on  the  rump;  fore- 
head, line  over  the  eye«.  and  under  tail-coverts,  yellow ;  crown,  wings, 
and  tail  black  ;  secondaries  mostly  white ;  bill  greenish  yellow,  con-i>icu- 
ouslv  large.  Female  differs  sliiihtly  from  the  male,  but  i>  readilv  identi- 
fied.    Length  about  ~*2  to  S  inches. 

A'est.  In  the  deep  forest,  usually  on  a  branch  of  a  tall  tree,  sometimes 
in  low  bush;  composed  of  twigs  and  roots,  lined  with  roots  or  hair. 

/i";';;^r.     4-? ;  pale  dull  green,  marked  with  pale  brown  spots. 

This  beautiful  species  inhabits  the  solitudes  of  the  North- 
western interior,  being  met  with  from  the  extremity  of  the 
Michigan  Territory  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  It  is  not  un- 
common towards  the  upper  extremity  of  Lake  Superior  and 


;68 


SINGING   lURDS. 


'I  . 


h       I 


ll 


i||M, 


(«' 


the  borders  of  Athabasca  Lake;  to  the  east  of  these  Hniits 
these  birds  appear  to  be  only  transient  visitors  in  spring  and 
fall.  They  are  common  inhabitants  of  the  fur  countries,  and 
particularly  of  the  maple  woods  of  the  Saskatchewan,  where 
they  do  not  arrive  from  the  South  before  the  commencement 
of  the  month  of  June.  In  the  pine  woods  of  Oregon  (accord- 
ing to  Mr.  '1  ownsend)  numerous  tlocks  are  seen  about  the  mid- 
dle of  May,  and  at  this  time  they  are  very  tame  and  unsuspicious, 
moving  about  in  considerable  numbers  throughout  the  whole 
of  the  day,  and  seem  no  way  given  to  retiring  before  sunset. 
'i'heir  ordinary  note  while  feeding  consists  of  a  single  rather 
screaming  call.  At  other  times,  particularly  about  mid-day,  the 
male  from  the  branches  of  some  tall  pine-tree  utters  a  single 
warbling  note  much  like  the  interrupted  beginning  of  the 
Robin's  song,  but  not  so  sweet.  They  feed  upon  the  seeds 
of  the  i)ine  and  other  trees,  alighting  upon  the  large  limbs, 
and  ])roreed  by  a  series  of  hops  to  the  very  extremities  of 
the  branches.  They  also  occasionally  devour  the  larvce  of  ants, 
and  probably  other  kinds  of  insects. 

The  Evening  Grosbeak  occurs  regularly  in  winter  in  Wisconsin, 
Illinois,  Iowa,  and  Michigan,  and  occasionally  in  Ohio  and  Ontario. 
During  the  latter  part  of  the  winter  of  1889-90  numbers  were 
seen  eastward  to  Montreal  and  the  New  England  States. 

The  flocks  appeared  in  the  vicinity  of  Hamilton  about  the 
middle  of  December.  Mr.  Mcllwraitli  writes  that  the  first  he  saw 
was  a  flock  of  about  twenty  or  thirty,  some  of  whom  were  on  the 
bank  of  the  Lake  feeding.  '■  while  others  were  down  on  tlie  sandy 
shore,  picking  gravel  or  dabbling  themselves  in  the  water.  ...  I 
thought  at  first  that  the  original  flock  had  remained,  but  soon  found 
that  an  easterly  migration  was  going  on.  and  that  as  one  flock  left 
another  arrived.  .  .  .  During  Eebruary  few,  if  any,  were  observed 
here.  In  March  the  return  trip  commenced,  but  was  in  all  respects 
different  from  the  easterly  one.  The  birds  were  then  fewer  in  num- 
ber, and  all  seemed  excited  and  desirous  to  go  west  with  the  least 
possible  delay."     (Uirds  of  Ontario.) 


-* 


lesc  limits 
pring  and 
itrics,  and 
an,  where 
lencement 
1  (accord- 
It  the  mid- 
sus])ici()us, 

the  whole 
)re  sunset, 
igle  rather 
id-day, the 
rs  a  single 
ng   of  the 

the  seeds 
irge  limbs, 
remities  of 
•v£E  of  ants. 


Wisconsin, 

m\  Ontario. 
Iiibers  were 

s. 
about    the 

iirsl  he  saw 
ere  on  tlie 

n  the  sandv 
ter.  ...  I 
soon  found 

lie  tiock  left 
e  observed 
all  respects 
A'er  in  num- 
ih  the  least 


ROSi:-ijRi-:Asri:r)  c.rosuhak. 

Hai?ia  ludoviciana. 

f'HAR.  Male:  above,  black  ;  rump  white;  wings  ami  tail  black  with 
white  markings;  below,  white  ;  breast  and  under  tail-c<>vcrts  deep  rose 
pink.  Fcmalu:  above,  streaked  blackish  and  olive;  crown  with  central 
stripe  of  white  ;  rumi)  white  :  under  ])arts  dull  white,  stre;d<cd  with  brown  ; 
no  red  on  the  breast.     Length  7^4  to  S'X  inches. 

A'esf.  Usually  on  the  margin  of  woods,  or  in  a  dense  alder-swamp,  — 
occasionally  in  a  garden  or  open  pasture;  composed  of  gras.s, //.W(V?  moss, 
roots,  stalks,  and  twigs,  lined  with  fine  grass,  roots,  or  pine-needles. 

■^iT-f-  3-5;  <bill  green  or  bluish  green  variously  marked  with  spots 
and  blotches  of  reddish  brown,  lilac,  and  pale  lavender;   i.oo  X  0.70. 

The  remote  Northwestern  Territories  of  the  l^nion,  Canada, 
and  the  cool  regions  towards  the  Rocky  Mountains  apjjcar  to 
be  the  general  residence  of  the  Rose-breasted  (Irosbeak.  A 
few  pairs  l)reed  on  the  banks  of  the  Mohawk,  and  probably 
in  the  interior  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Say  met  with  it  in  the 
sjjring,  on  the  lower  part  of  the  Missouri  ;  and  at  I'ombino,  on 
the  5th  of  August,  in  the  49th  parallel.  Dr.  Richardson  also 
observed  it  in  the  latitude  of  53°,  and  Audubon  found  it  breed- 
ing in  Newfoundland.  It  has  likewise  been  seen  in  Mexico 
and  Texas.  These  are,  no  doubt,  its  proper  natal  regions,  and 
the  course  of  its  migrations,  from  which  it  only  ventures  acci- 
dentally in  severe  winters,  and  is  then  transiently  seen  in  pairs 
east  of  the  Atlantic  mountains,  which  constitute  the  general 
boundary  of  its  range.  It  is  thus  seen  occasionally  in  the 
VOL.   I.  —  24 


370 


sinc;l\(;  iwkds. 


I 

SI 


1 1 


r 

1 
II   1  <  1 

f 

:  '^    : 

'1!                                                  ! 

f 

f  ^ 
1 

,Jtn;(ii 


vicinity  of  Philadelphia,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  particularly 
along  the  borders  of  l,ake  Ontario,  and  in  Connecticut,  but 
rarely  in  this  part  of  New  l-'jigland.  Pennant  >peaks  of  its 
arrival  in  the  State  of  New  York  in  May,  where  it  has  a  nest  ot 
5  ei^'gs,  and  then  retires  in  August.  It  is  also  unknown  in  the 
Southern  States. 

My  friend  Mr.  Cooper  remarks  that  though  this  species  is 
rare  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York,  a  few  probably  l)ne(l  in  the 
woods  of  the  Hudson,  as  at  'I'njjpan,  30  miles  \\\)  that  river,  it 
is  frecpiently  seen  in  the  cherry-trees  in  the  month  of  June, 
and  is  said  to  be  common  in  the  forests  along  the  south  shore 
of  Lake  Krie,  and  usually  breeds  there.  It  thrives  very  well 
in  a  cage,  is  a  most  melodious  and  indefatigable  warbler,  tre- 
(juently  in  fine  weather,  as  in  its  state  of  freedom,  passing  a 
great  part  of  the  night  in  singing,  with  all  the  varied  and  touch- 
ing tones  of  the  Nightingale. 

While  thus  earnestly  engaged,  it  seems  to  mount  on  tiptoe 
in  an  ecstasy  of  enthusiasm  and  delight  at  the  unrivalled  har- 
mony of  its  own  voice.  The  notes  are  wholly  warbled,  now 
loud,  clear,  and  vaulting  with  a  ([uerulous  air :  then  [)erhaps 
sprightly  ;  and  finally  lower,  tender,  and  pathetic.  In  short, 
I  am  not  acquainted  with  any  of  our  birds  superior  in  song 
to  the  present,  with  the  solitary  excej^tion  of  our  Orphean 
Mocking   l>ird. 

The  Louisiana  (irosbeak  is  fed  with  the  usual  kinds  oi  bird- 
seed, and  in  its  wild  state  seems  to  be  particularly  fond  of 
the  kernels  of  the  sour-gum  berries ;  it  probably  also  feeds 
upon  the  berries  of  the  juniper,  which  abound  in  the  regions 
it  usually  inhabits. 

Though  somewhat  local  in  its  distribution,  this  attractive  bird 
occurs  regularly  throughout  the  Eastern  States,  but  is  uncommon 
in  Maine,  New  Hampsliire,  and  Vermont.  It  is  found  in  some 
parts  of  New  Brunswick.  Nova  Scotia,  and  Quebec,  and  is  quite 
common  in  Ontario,  and  abimdant  in  Manitoba. 

Though  generally  selecting  a  secluded  spot  for  nesting,  a  pair 
will  occasionally  wander  away  from  the  forest  and  thicket,  and  even 
build  in  the  heart  of  a  town.  In  1890  a  nest  was  built  and  a  brood 
raised  not  a  hundred  yards  from  where  I  am  penning  these  words, 


I 


i  ■ 


KUticularly 
client,  but 
•aks  of  its 
IS  a  nest  ot 
)\vn  ill  the 


HLl'i:    (IKOSUKAK. 


371 


—  almost  within  tlie  shadow  of  Memorial  Hall.  TIu'  nest  w.>s 
laid  upon  a  hraiieh  that  hiinii  over  tlit-  sidewalk  of  Oxford  Street, 
not  more  than  ten  or  twelve  feet  from  the  ground,  the  tree  being 
in  the  Liardi'n  adjoinini^  the  residenee  of  Mr,  Francis  Foster. 


species  IS 
red  in  the 
hat  river,  it 
th  of  June, 
iouth  shore 
,'S  very  well 
varl)ler.  fre- 
1.  passiuLf  a 
I  and  toueh- 

U  on  ti])toe 
rivalled  har- 
arbled,  now 
hen  perhaps 
In  short, 
rior  in  song 
ur  Orphean 

Inds  (jf  binb 

larly   fond  of 

also  feeds 

the  regions 


[tractive  bird 

lis  uncommon 

lund  in  some 

and  is  quite 

?sting,  a  pair 

Iket,  and  even 

and  a  brood 

these  words, 


BLL'K  (;r()si;i:ak. 

CiriRACA    C.KRII.I'A. 

(iiAU.  M.ile  .  general  plumage  rich  hlue,  darker  nn  the  hai  k  :  fe.ith- 
eis  iuoimil  I)ase  of  l)ill,  wiiii^'s,  and  tail  black;  two  liii:;lit  rufous  hands 
on  the  wings.  Female:  smaller;  above,  yellowish  brown;  below,  dark 
buff.     Length  6j4  to  7  inches, 

y\V'.>A  On  a  low  branch  of  a  tree  or  bush,  situated  along  the  margin  of 
a  wootl,  or  in  an  open  pasture  or  orchard,  or  by  a  roadside, — sometimes 
m  an  alder  swamp  or  blackberry  thicket  ;  composed  of  leaves,  weed- 
stems,  ard  grass,  lined  with  horse-hair,  root>,  or  fine  grass  ;  occasionally 
pieces  of  snake  skin  or  newsnajier  .ue  worked  iiUo  the  exterior. 

y'\%'s.     3-4;  light  l)lue;  0.S5  X  0.65. 

This  shy  and  almost  solitary  s])e(ies  chielly  inhabits  the 
warmer  parts  of  .America  from  IJni/al  to  A'irginia  ;  stragglej-s 
occasionally  also  visit  the  lower  parts  of  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey,  and  lUillock  observed  them  on  the  tableland  of 
Mexico.  According  to  \\'il;;on,  it  is  nearly  a  silent  bird,  seldom 
singing  in  the  cage,  its  usual  note  of  alarm  being  merely  a 
loud  (-/lUck ;  though  at  times  its  musical  capacity  under  more 
favorable  circumstances  is  suggested  by  a  few  low  and  sweet- 
toned  notes.  It  may  be  fed  on  Indian  corn,  hemp-seed, 
millet,  and  the  kernels  of  several  kinds  of  berries. 

According  to  Audubon,  thesff  birds  arrive  in  Louisiana 
about  the  middle  of  March,  They  proceed  through  Alabama, 
(leorgia.  and  the  Carolinas,  in  all  which  districts  they  breed; 
and  although  rarely  seen  in  the  Western  States,  Mr,  Townsend 
and  myself  met  with  them  in  May  on  the  borders  of  the 
Platte,  near  Scott's  Bluffs,  where  they  were  already  mated  and 
breeding.  They  are  sometimes  met  with  along  the  Atlantic 
coast  as  far  as  New  Jersey,  and  Audubon  found  a  nest  in  that 
State  within  a  few  miles  of  Philadelphia.     Their  food  consists 


V' 


37 


/^ 


SIN'dlNCi    UIKDS. 


principally  of  difforciit  sorts  of  seeds  ;  tiicy  arc  also  fond  of 
those  of  n<t',  and  ^rass  of  all  kinds.  At  the  pericjii  of  breeding; 
they  sing  with  great  sweetness  anil  melody. 

This  s|)L'(  ies  is  still  rdtisidcrcd  a  Southern  bird  ;  hut  it  nv^ularly 
visits  Pennsylvania.  Kintu(ky,  and  Kansas,  and  1ms  been  taken  in 
.Massachusetts,  Maine,  and  New  TJrunswick. 


t  ' 


I'l'KlMd':    KlXCIl. 
i.iNNi;r. 

C.AKI'ohAi.lS    IMRITRKCS. 

Char.  Male:  no  "  ])urplc  ;  "  body  roNV  (  rinisoii,  l)riglitest  on  the 
head,  <laikc>t  on  tlic  hark,  iiakst  on  tlic  bieasi  ;  brllv  wliitc  ;  wiii-s  and 
tail  dusky;  everywhere  streaked  more  or  less  with  brown  and  ;;i.iv. 
FVinale  and  youn^  :  without  red;  stre.d<L'd  brown  and  gray,  sonietinio* 
with  (jlive  tint.     Length  about  6'4  inciics. 

yVt'.fA  Near  a  .settlement  and  in  some  old  pasture,  open  grove,  park,  or 
orchard  ;  com|)oscd  of  twigs,  weed-stems,  roots,  and  bark,  lined  with  tine 
gr.iss  or  hair. 

•'^C;'^^''-  -\~y-  pale  dull  bluish  green,  variously  marked  with  dark  brown 
and  lilac  ;  0.S5  X  0.60. 

These  brilliant  and  choerfid  songsters  inhabit  the  Northern 
and  Western  States  during  the  sumrner,  where  they  rear  their 
young.  They  appear  to  have  a  great  predilection  for  resinous 
evergreens,  pine,  and  sj^nice,  and  feed  iii)on  the  berries  of  the 
juniper  and  red  cedar  as  well  as  the  seeds  of  the  tulip-tree  and 
others  ;  they  likewise  frecpient  gardens  for  the  same  purpose, 
and  are  partictdarly  pleased  with  suntlower  seeds  and  other 
oily  kinds.  When  reduced  to  necessity  they  are  observed  to 
eat  the  buds  of  the  beech  and  those  of  the  fruit-trees,  —  prob- 
ably for  the  sake  of  the  stamens  contained  in  them,  of  which 
they  are  greedy  when  dis])layed  in  the  opening  blossoms.  'I'he 
stipules  of  the  expanding  buds  of  the  elm,  which  are  sweet 
and  mucilaginous,  as  well  as  the  young  capsules  of  the  willow 
in  the  spring,  also  make  a  common  part  of  their  fare.  Their 
food  in  simimer,  however,  consists  principally  of  insects  and 
juicy  berries,  as  those  of  the  honeysuckle  and  others. 


IL  Kl'I.i:   lI.Wll. 


►/ J 


i»  font  I  of 
f  brcctliiii; 

it  iwuularly 
iu  lakfii  in 


litest   on    tlie 

c  ;  wiiii;s  .md 
vn  aiul  :4i,iy. 
ly,  soinctiim.* 

rove,  piuk.  or 
incd  witli  Inie 

h  dark  brown 


ic  Northern 
y  roar  their 
for  resinous 
crries  of  the 
ip-tree  and 
lu'  puri)Ose, 
,   ;,n(l  other 
observed  to 
es,  —  prob- 
1-n,  of  which 
Issonis.    'I'he 
h  are  sweet 
f  the  willow 
fare.     Their 
insects  and 
Irs. 


Ahhoiigh  the  Purple  I'inch  bree<ls  and  passes  the  season  in 
this  vicinity,  yet  as  early  as  the  close  of  Scptciubcr  they  leave 
us  for  the  S<juth  :  about  which  time  and  nearly  to  the  close  of 
()(tt>ber,  small,  hungry,  roving  (locks  arrive  from  the  more 
northern  States  and  Canada  or  Ncwtbuudlaiid.  At  the  same- 
time  likewise  great  numbers  visit  I'ennsyU  inia,  the  maritime 
j)arts  of  New  York  anil  New  Jersey,  invl  M\any  pass  the  winter 
in  the  Middle  States,  while  others  proieed  as  far  south  as  the 
States  of  Louisiana,  I'lorida,  anil  Texas,  returnint;  north  in  the 
latter  enil  of  March  or  early  in  April,  and  arrivintj  with  us  in 
the  month  of  May  to  pass  the  most  important  period  of  their 
existence.  Rovin;^  tlocks  are  also  seen  here  as  early  as  the 
24th  of  March,  singing  while  they  stay  with  great  energy  and 
cheerfulness  ;  these  in  all  probability  proceed  to  Labrador  or 
Newfoundlanil  to  breed.  The  males  now  lia\e  many  bitter 
<:oniests  for  the  choice  of  their  mates,  and  are  \ery  bold  ami 
pugnacious  in  confmement.  attempting  to  destroy  every  other 
l)ird  introduced  into  the  same  cage.  They  also  bite  severely 
when  taken  up  wounded,  but  are  directly  reconciled  to  the 
cage,  finding  their  most  imj)orlant  wants  so  am])l\-  supplied  ; 
yet  in  this  state  they  often  refuse  to  sing,  and  after  moulting 
into  the  hmnble  plumage  of  the  female,  fre([uently  remain  so, 
without  ever  renewing  their  crimson  dress.  Thev  are  here 
exposed  in  cages  for  sale  at  high  prices  (by  the  name  of 
Linnets),  and  sing  i»retty  commonly  in  confinement.  Their 
notes  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  Warbling  \'ireo,  but 
louder,  and  more  agreeably  diversified.  From  the  tops  of  our 
lofty  and  spreading  elms  or  shadowy  spnice  trees,  where  they 
delight  to  pass  the  time,  their  varied  and  very  cheerful  melody 
is  often  continued  for  hours  almost  without  inter\al.  and 
poured  forth  like  a  torrent.  After  a  combat  with  a  rival,  his 
towering  notes  of  victory  burst  out  into  rapture,  and  he  now 
seems  to  triimi])h  with  loud  and  petulant  hilarity.  The  song 
of  this  beautiful  Finch  is  indeed  much  finer  than  that  of  the 
Canary;  the  notes  are  remarkably  clear  and  mellow,  and  the 
trilling  sweet  and  various,  particularly  on  their  first  arrival.  At 
times  the  warble  is  scarcely  audible,  and  appears  at  a  distance  : 


iiii 


If' 


374 


SINCIING    BIRDS. 


it  then,  by  a  fine  crescendo,  bursts  into  loudness  and  falls  into 
an  ecstasy  of  ardent  and  overpowering  expression  ;  at  such 
times  the  usual  pauses  of  the  song  are  forgotten,  and  like  the 
variefi  lay  of  the  Nightingale,  the  ravishing  performer,  as  if  in 
serious  emulation,  seems  to  study  every  art  to  produce  the 
effect  of  brilliant  antl  well-contrasted  harmony.  As  he  sits  on 
the  topmost  bough  of  some  tall  sapling  or  more  lofty  tree,  sur- 
veying the  wide  landscape,  his  proud  voice  and  elevated  action 
seem  to  bid  defiance  to  comi)etition  ;  and  while  thus  earnestly 
engaged,  he  seems  to  fear  no  spectator,  however  near  may  be 
his  apprciches.  The  rajjidity  of  his  i)erformance  and  the  pre- 
eminent execution  with  which  it  is  delivered  seem  almost  like 
the  effort  of  a  musical-box  or  fine-toned,  cjuickly  moving,  deli- 
c-'e  strain  on  the  organ.  While  feeding  in  the  month  of 
March  these  birds  also  utter  a  querulous  tsliippee  tshcr,  in 
nearly  the  same  sad  and  liquid  tone  as  that  uttered  by  the 
Yellow  Birds  while  thus  engaged.  The  dull-colored  birds,  in 
the  attire  of  the  female,  do  not  sing  either  so  well  or  in  the 
sime  manner  as  the  crimson-colored  individuals. 

The  nest  of  this  species  is,  as  I  have  observed  in  two  in- 
stances in  Cambridge,  matle  in  the  horizontal  branches  of  the 
'jalsara  fir.  In  the  first,  which  I  saw  in  the  garden  of  Professor 
Farrar,  it  was  made  in  a  yoiuig  tree  about  6  feet  from  the 
grot- d-  (Jn  approaching  it  the  female  sat  still  until  I  nearly 
touch,:fd  her,  ar  1  made  very  little  complaint  when  off.  The 
nest  was  coarse  and  substantial,  very  much  like  that  of  the 
Song  Sparrow,  composed  of  coarse  grass  and  lined  with  fine 
root-fibres.  From  this  nest  was  raised  in  a  cage  one  of  the 
young,  which  became  exceedingly  docile  and  affectionate,  but 
was  not  remarkable  for  its  song. 

In  winter  the  Purple  Finch  is  found  regularly,  though  sparingly, 
through  tlie  southern  and  central  portions  of  New  England  and  in 
(3ntario.  and  occasionally  as  far  north  as  New  IJrunswick.  Its 
winter  range  extends  southward  as  far  as  the  Ciulf  States,  while 
its  breeding  area  extends  from  Long  Island  and  Minnesota  to  the 
lower  fur  countries. 


w- 


falls  into 

at  such 
A  like  the 
r.  as  if  in 
iduce   the 
he  sits  on 
tree,  sur- 
ted  action 
i  earnestly 
ar  may  be 
(1  the  pre- 
ilmost  like 
)ving,  (leli- 

month  of 
('  islur,  in 
red  by  the 
d  birds,  in 
I  or  in  the 

in  two  in- 
ches of  the 
)f  Professor 
t  from  the 
til  I  nearly 
off.     The 
hat  of  the 
1  with  fine 
one  of  the 
ionate,  but 


|li  sparin,e;ly, 
kland  and  in 
Lswick.  Its 
I  tales,  while 
lesota  to  the 


PINE   GROSBEAK. 

PiMCOLA    ENUCLEA  J  ( )R. 

Char.  Male:  grayish  brown,  darkest  on  the  back,  shading  lo  ashy 
on  the  runip,  washed  with  rosy  carmine,  whicii  is  deepest  on  the  crown 
and  rump;  wings  and  tail  dusky,  the  wings  with  two  white  l)ands.  Kc- 
ma'e  and  young:  similar,  but  without  tlie  rosy  coloring;  head  and  rump 
washed  with  pale  olive  bronze.     Length  S'^  to  9  incl'-es. 

.Ve;:.  On  the  border  of  a  swamp  or  the  margin  of  a  strer.m  running 
through  an  evergreen  I'orest ;  s.addled  on  a  low  branch  or  in  a  crotch  of 
a  low  bush,  or  placed  in  a  crevice  of  a  rock.  A  bulky,  ill-made  affair 
of  mo<s,  or  twigs  and  roots  or  strips  of  lnik,  and  lined  with  fine  gr,tss, 
roots,  or  vegetal  ile  fibre. 

E^^s.  4-.^;  pale  greenish  blue  marked  with  dark  brown  and  lilac; 
1.05  X  0.75. 

These  splendid  and  very  hardy  birds  appear  to  dwell  almost 
wholly  within  the  cold  and  Arctic  regions  of  both  continents. 
whence,  only  in  severe  winters,  a  few  migrate  into  Can- 
ada and  the  United  States,  where  they  are  consequently  of 
rare  and  uncertain  occurrence.  They  have  been  seen  in 
winter  in  the  lower  part  of  Missouri,  and  at  the  same  season, 
occa.sionally,  in  the  maritime  parts  of  Massachusetts  and  Penn- 
sylvania, and  are  observed  to  return  to  Hudson  Pay  as  early  as 
April.  .According  to  Mr.  Pennant,  they  frequent  the  woods  of 
pine  and  juniper,  and  are  now  possessed  of  musical  talents ; 


^^,4^ 


wm 

m 

I         k                ' 

1  i.  S 

i  I 


li'li'llpr:. 


376 


SINGING    151 RDS. 


but  as  the  period  of  incubation  approaches  they  grow  silent. 
Suited  to  the  sterile  climates  tht-y  inhabit,  their  fare,  besides 
the  seeds  of  the  jjine,  alpine  plants,  and  berries,  often  consists 
of  the  buds  of  the  poplar,  willow,  and  other  northern  trees  and 
shrubs;  so  that  they  are  generally  secure  of  the  means  of  sub- 
sistence as  long  as  the  snows  are  not  too  vjverwhelming.  The 
individuals  as  yet  seen  in  the  Lnited  States  are  wholly  young 
birds,  which,  it  seems,  naturally  seek  out  warmer  climates  than 
the  adult  and  more  hardy  individuals. 

According  to  Mr.  T.  McCuUoch,  of  Pictou,  Xova  Scotia,  in 
very  severe  winters  flocks  of  these  birds,  driven  from  the  pine 
forests  by  famine  and  cold,  collect  about  the  barn>.,  and.  even 
enter  the  streets  of  Pictou,  alighting  in  quest  of  food.  A  male 
bird  at  this  season,  caught  in  a  trap,  became  very  familiar,  and 
as  the  spring  approached  he  resumed  his  song  hi  tiie  mornings, 
and  his  notes,  like  those  of  the  Rose-breasted  tlrosbeak,  were 
exceedingly  rich  and  full.  As,  however,  the  period  for  migra- 
tion approached,  his  familiarity  disapj^eared,  and  the  desire  of 
liberty  seemed  to  overcome  every  other  feeling.  For  four  days 
in  succession  his  fooil  remained  untouched,  and  hiri  piteous 
wailing  excited  so  much  commiseration  that  at  length  he  was 
released.  The  Pine  (irosbeak  is  said  to  breed  in  Maine  as 
well  as  in  Newfoundlaml  and  Labrador. 

The  visits  of  this  handsome  bird  to  New  England  and  the  more 
southern  portions  of  Canada  are  decidedly  irregular.  During  an 
occasional  winter  the  tiocks  are  large  and  numerous,  while  again 
for  several  seasons  but  a  few  stragglers  may  appear. 

Dr.  Coues  thinks  that  there  is  no  question  but  that  the  bird  is  a 
"resident"  in  northern  New  England,  breeding  in  some  parts  of 
Maine,  New  Hampshire,  and  \'ermont :  but  I  am  much  inclined 
to  question  it.  \'ery  possibly  a  few  pairs  may  pass  an  occasional 
summer  in  that  region,  but  I  can  find  no  evidence  of  the  birds 
having  been  seen  there  with  sufficient  frequency  to  warrant  their 
being  termed  residents. 

The  only  known  instances  of  this  species  having  l^uilt  in  the 
vicinity  of  northern  New  England  must  be  credited  to  New 
lirunswick.  These  are  Boardman's  hypothetical  nest,  found  near 
St.  Stephen;  the  unfinished  nest  which  Banks  discovered  the 
parents  at   work  upon,  near  St.  John  ;   and  the  nest   with  three 


i  i|.! 


FINE   GROSBEAK. 


}>77 


;ro\s"  silent, 
re,  besides 
en  consists 
1  trees  and 
Lins  of  sub- 
ling.  'Ihe 
lolly  young 
matc>  than 

a  Scotia,  in 
v^  the  ]>ine 
.,  ami  even 
1.      A  male 
imiliar,  and 
I  mornings, 
■ibeak,  were 
for  migra- 
le  desire  of 
jr  four  days 
his  piteous 
igth  he  was 
\  Maine  as 


I 


young  and  one  egg  taken  by  Cox  on  the  Restii^ouche,  in  latitude 
47"'.  But  e.xcepting  in  these  three  instances,  aiul  a  fourth  where 
young  birds  were  seen  on  the  Tobique  River,  the  species  has 
been  unknown  as  a  .summer  resident  in  New  Brunswick.  Co.\ 
saw  several  e.\amples  along  tlie  Restigouche  in  July.  iSSS,  but  I 
have  hunted  for  them  up  and  down  the  same  river,  froiu  the 
Wagan  to  the  .Metapedia,  both  in  July  and  Septenilici.  without 
seeing  or  hearing  so  much  as  one. 

It  is  said  that  the  .southern  limit  of  its  breeding  .uci  i-.  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  50th  parallel,  though  in  th.e  West  it  is  somewhat 
farther  north,  as  Thompson  reports  the  bird  a  winter  visitor  onlv 
at  Winnipeg  and  Ponage  la  Prairie.  From  thence  it  ranges  far 
north  — to  the  Yukon  and  beyond.  In  winter  the  tlorks  spread 
over  the  country  in  varying  abundance,  as  far  south  as  Kansas  and 
Maryland. 

Some  years  ago  I  kept  a  male  in  confinement,  and  found  him  a 
delightful  pet.  He  was  healthy  and  happy  in  his  cage,  wa.->  easily 
tamed,  bein-:  contidiiig  and  affectionate,  anil  added  to  \\\^  other 
good  (lualities  a  sweet  voice  and  pretty  melody. 

The  song  differs  with  the  season.  In  winter  it  is  >tronn  and 
cheery,  as  befits  a  stalwart  fellow  who  lauglis  at  Jack  Fro.st  and 
makes  merr\-  when  the  north  wind  blows.  But  when  the  spring- 
time comes  he  tells  the  old,  old  story  in  most  gentle  tones,  -  a 
whispered  love  song,  sweet  and  tender,  yet  with  a  wild  plaintive 
ness  that  makes  it  peculiarly  pleasing. 


nd  the  more 

During  an 

while  auain 


he  bird  is  a 
me  parts  of 
h  inclined 
occasional 
.^t  the  birds 
irrant  their 


ici 
1 


milt  in  the 
ed   to   New- 
found near 
overed   the 
witli  diree 


II 


r' 


)       ' 


I* 


if 

^' 

i. 

AM K RICA. \    C ROSSI ilLL. 

COMMON    CROSSBILL.     RED    CROSSBILL. 
U)\\A    CURVIKt)STR.\    MINOR. 

Char.  Bill  long  and  compressed,  ni:iiulihlcs  curved  at  the  points, 
wiiich  cross  or  overlap.  In  young  birds  the  bill  is  straight.  Adult  males  : 
dull  red,  variable  in  shade  ;  wings  and  tail  blackish  brown.  Young  males  : 
yellowish  olive.  In  changing  plumage  thcv  display  great  variety  of  com- 
binations of  yellow,  olive,  and  red.  Females :  above,  dull  olive  ;  rump 
and  crown  yellow ;  wings  and  tail  as  mnle;  below,  grayish.  Length  ^Vz 
to  6  inches. 

jVt's/.  Usually  in  a  dense  wood,  on  a  branch  of  an  evergreen  tree  15 
to  30  feet  from  the  ground;  made  of  twigs,  strips  of  bark,  weed-stems, 
and  roots,  lined  thickly  with  grass,  roots,  hair,  and  feathers. 

^Cs'-     3~A  '  P''ile  green  dotted,  near  larger  end,  with  brown  and  laven- 
der; 0.75  X  0.57. 

This  more  common  species,  like  the  preceding,  inhabits  the 
high  northern  and  arctic  regions  of  both  continents,  where  it 
breeds,  and  is  met  with  from  Cireenland  to  Pennsyh-ania,  or 
farther  south,  according  to  the  season  and  the  success  in 
obtaining  food  when  driven  to  make  a  southern  descent  or 
migration.  From  Septeml)er  to  April  these  birds  are  found 
inhabiting  the  extensive  pine  forests  in  the  mountainous  and 
interior  districts  of  Pennsylvania  and  other  States  to  the  north  ; 
they  also  extend  their  winter  migrations  into  the  lower  parts  of 
the  State  of  Missouri.  They  have  occasionally  been  seen  in 
the   maritime   parts  of  Massachusetts,  but  are  less   common 


'M 


'■""iiu 


;  the  points, 
Adult  males : 
oung  males : 
iety  of  com- 
olive  ;  rump 
Length  ^Vz 

een  tree  i  5 
weed-stems, 

[i  and  laven- 


habits  the 
,  where  it 
h-ania,  or 
access  in 
iescent  or 
lire  found 
[nous  and 
Ihe  north  ; 
Ir  parts  of 
h  seen  in 
comnion 


AMERICAN   CROSSBILL, 


379 


here  than  the  following  species,  generally  Uking,  in  their  irregu- 
lar incursions,  a  more  interior  and  mountainous  route.  In  the 
eastern  chain  of  the  Alleghanies,  in  Pennsylvania,  according  to 
Wilson,  they  appear  to  be  at  times  very  abundant  visitors, 
fc'e<img  so  steadily  on  tlie  seeds  of  the  white  pine  and  hem- 
lock spruce  as  to  be  api)roached  without  taking  alarm.  'I'hey 
have  also  a  loud,  sharp,  and  not  unmusical  note,  chattering  as 
they  tly,  and  during  the  prevalence  of  deej)  snows  become  so 
tamed  by  hunger  as  to  alight  round  the  mountain  cabins,  e\en 
settling  on  the  roofs  when  disturbed,  and,  like  pigeons,  de- 
scending in  the  next  moment  to  feed  as  if  they  had  never 
been  molested.  They  are  then  easily  trapped,  and  so  eager 
antl  unsuspicious  as  to  allow  an  approach  so  near  that  they 
may  be  knocked  down  with  sticks.  In  these  ver)-  familiar  visits 
they  are  observed  even  to  pick  off  the  clay  from  the  logs  of  the 
house,  and  to  swallow  the  mere  earth  to  allay  the  cravings  of 
hunger.  In  cages  they  show  many  of  the  habits  of  the  Pariot, 
climbing  up  the  sides  and  holding  the  pine-cones  given  them  in 
one  claw  while  thev  extract  the  seeds.  Like  the  same  bird  in 
Louisiana,  they  also  do  considerable  damage  at  times  in  the 
orchard  by  tearing  ajiples  to  jjieces  for  the  sake  of  getting  at 
the  seeds  only.  They  feed  likewise  on  the  seeds  of  the  alder, 
as  well  as  the  kernels  of  other  fniits  and  the  buds  of  trees. 
Scarcely  any  of  these  birds  have  yet  been  obser\'ed  to  breed 
within  the  United  States,  as  they  retire  for  this  puri)ose  to  their 
favorite  pine  forests  in  high  and  more  cool  latitudes,  where  in 
security  and  solitude  they  jMirsue  the  iluties  of  procreation. 
Dr.  Brewer,  of  Boston,  however,  obtained  eggs  of  these  birds 
from  Coventry,  in  Vermont.  T,ike  the  preceding  sjjecies,  they 
often  breed  in  winter  in  more  temperate  countries,  as  in 
January  and   February,  and  the  young  fly  in  ^L^rch. 

This  bird  was  not  obser\-ed  by  the  naturalists  of  the  north- 
ern expeditions  in  any  part  of  the  fur  countries.  It  is,  how- 
ever, described  by  Forster.  In  the  winter  of  i'S32,  during  or 
soon  after  a  severe  snow-storm,  a  large  flock  of  these  uncer- 
tain winter  visitors  were  seen  in  a  red-cedar  grove  near  to 
Mount  Auburn,  in  this  vicinity.     In  1833,  accomjianied  by  the 


iil 


h. 


i  Mf!:^ 


1;!:  iifi! 


380 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


White-winged  species,  a  tlock  of  tiie   same  birds  made  their 
appearance  as  early  as   the    i  ith  of  Novemlx-r   m  some    tall 
pine-trees   n  the  same  place  they  visited  the  last  year  in  the 
dei)th  of  winter.    They  are  very  busy  and  unsuspicious,  having 
very  much  the  manners  of  Parrots  in  their  feeding.     .At  some 
distance   beneath  the   trees  where  they  are   engaged,   we  can 
hear  them  ft)rcing  open  the  scales  of  the  rigid  pine  cones  with 
a  considerable  crackling,  and  the  wings  of  the  seeds  fly  about 
in  all  directions.     Sometimes  the  little  Redpolls  also  attend  to 
snatch  a  seed  or  two  as  they  are  spread  to  the  winds.      I'hey 
fly  somewhat  like  the  Yellow  Hirds,  by  repeated  jerks  and  sink- 
ings and  risings  in  their  course,  but  proceed  more  swiftly  and 
directly  to  their  destination  ;  tht;y  also  utter  a  rather  loud  and 
almost  barking  or  fifing  chirp,   particularly   the   females,   like 
V.s/f  7,v////  '/s/i  'ts/iip.      Iheir  enemies  seem  also  to  follow  them 
into  this  distant  antl  unusual  retreat.     One  evening,  as  they 
were  uttering  their  ([uailing  chirp,  and  about  to  roost  in  the 
pines,  we  heard  an  unusual  cry,  and  found  that  the  alarm  was 
justly  occasioned  by  the  insidious  and  daring  attack  of  a  bold 
Ikitcher   IHrd   {Lanit/s  l>o)ra//s),  who  had  taken  advantage  of 
their  bewildered  confusion  at  the  moment  of  retiring  to  repose. 
Besides   their  call  and   ordinary   plaints,  we   hear,  as    I   have 
thought,  now  and  then,  in  the  warmer  jiart  of  the  day.  a  rather 
agreeable,  but  somewhat  monotonous,  song.     We  found  these 
birds,  as  well  as  the  Redpolls,  very  fat  nnd  ])lump  ;  and  they 
devour  a  great  (piantity  of  pine-seeds,  with  which  the  (esopha- 
gus is  ])er))etually  gorged  as  full  as  in  the  gluttonous  and  tune- 
less Cedar  birds  iyBomhycilla). 

The  Red  Crossbill  is  still  known  to  be  chiefly  a  winter  visitor  to 
New  Kni^land  and  the  .Middle  States,  though  every  summer  ;i 
small  number  may  be  met  with  in  the  more  northern  districts  and 
on  the  crests  of  the  Alleghanies  south  to  (ieorgia.  In  April,  1889^ 
Mr.  G.  S.  Miller,  Jr.,  found  a  flock  on  Cape  Cod,  and  upon  dis- 
secting several,  he  discovered  evidence  that  they  were  nesting. 

In  nortliern  Maine  and  New  iirunswick  numbers  have  been  seen 
during  the  summer  months;  but  even  in  these  region.s  the  bird  is 
chiefly  a  winter  visitor,  and  at  that  season  it  ranges  to  the  Southern 
States. 


^ 


ladc  their 
some  tall 
•ar  in  the 
us,  having 

At  some 
.1,  wc  t  an 
cones  with 
s  rtv  about 

attend  to 
ids.      Ihey 
s  and  sink- 
swiftly  and 
;r  loud  and 
males,   like 
ollow  them 
ng,  as  they 
oost  in  the 
s  alarm  was 
:  of  a  bold 
rlvantage  of 

to  repose. 

as  I  have 
a  rather 
bund  these 
and  they 
le  (esopha- 
an<l  tune- 


■r  visitor  to 

summer  a 

istricts  and 

April,  1889, 

d  upon  dis 

Ksting. 

e  been  seen 

the  bird  is 

le  Southern 


WmiE-WlNGED   CRUSSmi.L.  T,Sl 


\vHiri-:-\viNGi:u  crosshii.l. 

b  )XL\    LF.L:COFrF.R.\. 

Char.  ISill  long  and  compressed,  nuindibks  curved  at  the  points, 
which  cros^  ur  uverlap.  Male;  dull  n»y,  clouded  with  dull  dark  l)rown 
ou  the  b.ick ;  wttigT*  and  tail  black;  two  broad  while  bai.i  nn  the  wiiv^s; 
belly  dull  white  :»ireaked  with  brown.  I'emale  :  dull  olive,  paler  beneath; 
rump  huffy  Young:  similar  to  female,  but  paler  olive  above,  and  m.^re 
decided  ycHow  Wiseath,  streaked  everywhere  with  dark  brown.  As  the 
youn^  mature  they  are  subject  to  considerable  variation.  Length  about 
6  to  6|j  in  .hes. 

AVj/.  In  ihe  deep  fore>t.  on  an  evergreen,  amid  the  denser  toliage 
near  the  centre  of  the  tree  ;  made  of  twigs  and  strips  of  birch  bark,  cov- 
ered with  mos.s  iiisiuai,  and  lined  with  soft  moss  and  hair. 

^'■.<:^'^-  j-?r  pale  blue,  spotted  and  streaked  near  larger  end  with  red- 
dish brown  and  I;iac;  o-So  X  053. 

This  beautiful  and  well-distinguished  species  inhabits  tlie 
northern  regions  of  the  American  continent  only,  whence, 
at  irregular  inter\-aLs,  on  the  aj)i)roach  of  winter,  it  arri\  es  in 
the  Northern  ami  Middle  States,  and,  as  usual  with  the  rest  of 
this  rurious  family,  seeks  out  the  jiine  and  henlock-spnice 
forests.  Its  visits  to  this  State  [Massachusetts]  nre  ver>' 
irregular.  .Xbout  two  years  ago,  large,  gregarious,  famished 
flocks  were  seen  near  Newburyport  and  other  neighboring 
towns  in  the  virinity  of  the  sea-coast,  at  which  time  many 
were  caught,  killed,  and  caged.  The  liabits  of  this  bird  are 
almost  entirely  similar  to  those  of  the  preceding  species.  Its 
song  is  said  to  be  mellow  and  agreeable,  and  in  captivity  it 
becomes  gentie  and  familiar. 

.Acc^ording  to  Mr.  Hutchins,  it  arrives  around  Hudson  Bay 
in  March,  and  in  May  builds  a  nest  of  grass,  muil.  and  feath- 
ers, fixed  generally  about  half  way  up  a  pine-tree,  and  lays  5 
white  eggs  marked  ttith  yellowish  spots.  The  young  fly  about 
the  end  of  June.  It  remains  in  this  country  till  the  close  of 
November,  after  which  it  retires,  probably  to  the  South  ;  and 
Wilson's  bird  was  obtained  in  the  (ireat  Pine  Swamp  or  forest 
of  the  Pokono  ( Pennsylvania ) .  in  the  month  of  September, 
so  that  it  may  be  possible  that  some  few  pairs  breed  in  this 
situation. 


i 


^,82 


SINGING    BIRDS. 


(■ 


'I 


i 

i.      '     '•■ 

« 


This  species,  according  to  Richardson,  inhabits  the  dense 
white  spriu  e  forests  of  the  fur  countries,  feeding  princiijaUy  on 
the  seeds  of  the  cones.  It  ranges  through  the  whole  brea(hh 
of  the  continent,  and  probably  up  to  the  G.Sth  ])arallel,  where 
tiie  forests  terminate.  It  is  usuall)'  seen  in  the  upper  branches 
of  trees,  and  when  wounded  still  (lings  so  fast  as  tt)  remain 
suspentled  after  death.  In  September,  collecting  in  small 
Hocks,  they  tly  from  tree  to  tree  in  a  restless  manner  and  make 
a  chattering  noise;  and  in  the  depth  of  winter  thi-y  retire  from 
the  coast  to  seek  shelter  in  the  thick  woods  of  the  interior. 

This  interesting  bird  must  still  be  written  "irreguhii  "  in  its  oc- 
currence in  .Massachusetts,  tliuugh  usually  more  or  less  .unnidant 
in  winter  down  to  the  40th  parallel,  and  occasionally  ranging  as  far 
south  as  X'irginia. 

It  is  partially  sedentary  in  northern  .\ew  England  and  the  .Mari- 
time Provinces  of  Canada,  though  nuich  more  abundant  in  winter 
than  (luring  the  warm  weather.  Mr.  .Mcllwraith  consitler.^  the  bird 
a  winter  visitor  only  to  southern  Ontario,  and  .Mr.  Thompson  makes 
a  similar  report  for  Manitoba  though  he  thinks  it  may  breed  tiiere. 
The  nest  is  built  in  January  and  Fei)ruary.  —  1  have  known  'of 
numerous  nests  being  discovered  in  .New  Brunswick  in  tliose 
months,  and  it  is  probable  that  both  young  and  old  retire  farther 
northward  after  the  young  birds  are  able  to  tiv. 

The  flight  of  the  Crossbills  is  undulating,  like  the  fhglit  of  the 
American  (ioldfinch,  and  their  songs  are  similar.  Tliev  sing  on 
the  wing,  and  as  a  Hock  j^asses  overhead  on  a  clear  winter's  day 
their  sweet  voices  come  through  the  quiet  air  with  pleasing  effect. 


I    fi 


thu  dense 
icipally  on 
)1l'  breadth 
illel,  wherei 
■r  brandies 
ti)  remain 
1^  in  small 
■  and  make 
retire  from 
lUerior. 

in  its  oc- 
s  ainmdant 
igiau  as  far 

1(1  the  -Mari- 
nt  in  winter 
ers  the  bird 
ipson  makes 
breed  there, 
e  known  of 
k  in  those 
etire  farther 

li;j;ht  of  the 
ley  sing  on 
inter's  day 
in"'  effeet. 


WHITK-BRKASTHI)    MTHATCH. 

SrriA    eAKOl.lNIASIS, 

Char.  Above,  bluish  ash:  top  of  Iiead  and  neck  black  ;  %vini;>  black, 
blue,  and  white;  tail  black,  marked  with  white;  beneath,  white;  under 
tail-coverts  reddish  brown.  I>ill  long  and  acute.  Female  .\\\A  yuung 
similar,  but  black  of  head  tinged  with  ashy  nr  wanting.  Length  ;*4 
inches. 

iVest.  In  open  wo  idland,  placed  at  the  bottom  of  a  cavitv  excavated 
in  a  dead  tree  or  stumj),  — sometimes  an  old  woodpecker's  ne^t  is  nscrl ; 
made  of  leaves,  grass,  feathers,  and  han. 

-^AT-f-  4~^  (occasionally  as  many  as  lo,  u>uallv  5)  ;  white  tinged  witii 
rose  pink,  and  spotted  with  reddi>h  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.80  X  0.60. 

This  species,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  Knropean  Xuthatdi,  xc- 
sides  ])ermanently  throughout  North  America,  from  Hiids(jn 
Hay  and  Oregon  to  the  tableland  of  .Mexico,  appearing  only 
more  common  and  familiar  at  the  apj)roach  of  winter  in  con- 
sequence of  the  failure  of  its  food  in  its  favorite  sylvan  re- 
treats, which  it  now  often  forsakes  for  the  ojkmi  fields,  orchards, 
or  gardens,  where,  in  ])airs  or  small  and  sometimes  contending 


3«4 


SIX(JING   BIRDS. 


■  .Ml 


!l  ' 


I!! 


11- 


ilr^. ' 


I. 


I: 


f 

1 

1' 

1 

t 

I 

n 

'!! 


iii 


{Kirtics,  they  cautiously  glc.ui  ;i  transient  means  of  subsistence, 
ami  wander  from  )-'  :e  to  place  as  the  sujjply  dimmishes.  At 
the  welcome  return  'however,  of  the  month  of  April,  with  the 
revival  and  renewal  of  its  insect  fare  the  Nuthatch  becomes 
more  ilomestic  ;  and  retiring  into  the  forest  with  its  mate,  it 
prepares  for  its  progeny  in  some  hollow  tree,  or  e\en  in  a  rail 
of  the  neighboring  fence.  The  male  is  now  assiduously  atten- 
tive to  his  sitting  mate,  supplying  her  regularly  wiUi  food  ;  on 
which  tjccasion  he  affectionately  calls  her  iVom  the  mouth  of 
her  dark  and  voluntary  prison,  where  sometimes,  in  mere 
sociability,  he  attempts  in  his  rude  way  to  soothe  her  with  his 
c()m]ilai>-ant  chatter.  He  is  too  affectionate  to  ramble  from 
this  fa\(>rite  spot,  where  he  not  only  accom])anies  his  consort, 
but.  sentinel-like,  watches  and  informs  her  of  everv  threaten- 
ing danger.  When  the  pair  are  feeding  on  the  trunk  of  the 
same  tree,  or  near  to  each  other  in  the  same  wood,  the  faithful 
male  is  heard  perpetually  calling  upon  his  comjjanion  at  short 
inter\als  as  he  circumambulates  the  trunk.  His  approach  is 
announ(  cd  usually  at  a  distance  by  his  nasal  Xv////'  Xv/z/X', 
frequently  rejieated,  as  in  s])iral  circles  round  the  trunk  of 
some  tree  he  ]>robes,  searches,  and  shells  off  the  bark  in  quest 
of  his  lurking  i)rey  of  spiders,  ants,  insects,  and  their  larvae  in 
general.  So  tight  and  secure  is  his  hold  that  he  is  known  to 
roost  indiffereiulx'  with  his  head  u])  or  down  from  the  tree  ; 
and  win  n  wounded,  while  any  spink  of  life  remains,  his  con- 
vulsive and  instinctive  grasp  is  still  Hrmly  and  obstinately 
maintained.  Sometimes,  with  a  sort  of  complaisant  curiosity, 
one  of  the  birds,  when  there  is  a  ])air,  will  silently  descend 
nearly  to  the  foot  of  the  tree,  where  the  spectator  hai)pens  to 
stand,  sto])])ing,  head  downwards,  and  stretching  out  his  neck, 
as  it  were,  to  reconnoitre  your  appearance  and  motives;  and 
after  an  interval  of  silence,  wheeling  round,  he  again  ascends 
to  his  usual  station,  trumpeting  his  notes  as  before.  He  seldom 
wholly  quits  the  forest,  but  when  baffled  by  the  slippery  sleet 
which  denies  him  a  foothold,  he  is  sometimes  driven  to  the 
necessity  of  ajiproaching  the  barnyard  and  stables,  or  the 
precincts  of  the  dwelling,  where,  occasionally  mixing  among 


KKD-r.KKASlKI)    NL  IHA  1<  "H. 


3«5 


iiibsistence, 
iiishcs.     At 
:-il,  with  the 
:h  becomes 
its  mate,  it 
Ml  ill  a   rail 
uusly  atleii- 
li  Iboil ;  on 
e  moulli  of 
;s,    in   mere 
ler  witli  liis 
amble  from 
his  consort, 
rv  threaten- 
runk  of  the 
,  the  faithful 
lion  at  short 
approach   is 
kaiik  kiiiik, 
he  trunk   of 
;irk  in  quest 
leir  larvae  in 
is  known  to 
n  the  tree  ; 
ns,  his  con- 
obstinately 
[It  curiosity, 
Itly  descend 
happens  to 
It  his  neck, 
lives ;  and 
lin  ascends 
le  seldom 
[ippery  sleet 
ven  to  the 
es,    or    the 
ing  among 


the  common  fowls,  enterin;;;  the  barn,  examining  its  beams  and 
rafters,  he  seems  to  leave  no  means  untried  to  secure  a 
subsistence. 

I  liis  species  is  doubtless  a  resident  in  Ontario  and  New  Kntj- 
land,  licconiing  more  abundant  during  the  winter  months;  but  in 
tlie  Maritime  Provinces  it  is  onlv  a  summer  visitor. 


Ri:i)-l}Rlv\S'i"Kn    NUTHATCH. 

SriTA    CANADKNSIS. 

Th AK  Above,  .ishv  blue  (tn])  .nnd  sidi-  of  Iifad  blacl<  on  the  male)  ; 
broad  stripe  of  white  over  tlie  eyes;  wintjs  blackish,  with  ashv  markings; 
outer  tail-feathers  black  with  white  patches;  beneath,  reddish  brown, 
—  paler  in  the  female;  chin  white;  bill  loiip;  and  acute.  Length  4'2 
inches. 

A'l'st.  In  open  woodland  ;  an  excavation  in  a  decaved  stub,  lined  with 
gra.ss  and  roots.     Often  the  entrance  is  surrounded  with  fir  I)alsam. 

AX's'r-   4-6 ;  white  with  pale  roseate  tint  and  thickly  spotted  with  brown 
and  lilac;  0.60  X  0.50. 

The  habits  of  these  smaller  birds  are  almost  similar  to  tlie 
prececbng  ;  they  have,  however,  a  predilection  for  jiine  forests, 
feeding  much  on  the  oily  seeds  of  these  evergreens.  In  these 
barren  solitudes  they  are  almost  certain  to  be  found  in  busy 
employment,  associating  in  pairs  with  the  Chickadees  and 
smaller  Woodpeckers,  the  whole  forming  a  hungry,  active,  and 
noisy  group,  skipjiing  from  tree  to  tree  with  petulant  chatter, 
probing  and  rattling  the  dead  or  leafless  branches,  prying  in 
every  jiosture  for  their  scanty  food,  and,  like  a  horde  of  Tar- 
tars, ]>rocecd  through  the  forest  and  leisurely  overrun  the  wh(de 
of  the  continent  to  the  very  confines  of  the  tropics,  retiring 
north  in  the  same  manner  with  the  advance  of  the  spring. 

The  notes  of  this  species  of  Nuthatch,  though  similar,  are 
sharper  than  those  of  the  preceding,  resembling  (fay  day  dait, 
and  sounding  almost  like  a  child's  trumpet.  Its  motions  are 
also  quicker.  They  cling  to  the  bark  of  the  tree  and  roost 
commonly  with  the  head  downwards,  in  the  manner  of  their 
whole  tribe. 


VOL.    I. 


-0 


«^^1 


386 


SINGINC.   lURDS. 


This  si)erics  lias  a  nioro  cxtciulcd  raii^a-  than  carolincn^is.  Itcing 
found  tartlici  west  and  larthcr  north.  It  breeds  Ironi  noithcni 
Nl'w  Knyland  and  Manitoba  nortluvard  and  soutliward  along  the 
Aiifghanifs.  In  wintrr  it  ranges  from  New  IJrunswick  to  tiic  *iulf 
States 


ll 
r 


% 


;| 


I]RO\vn-iii;ai)i:i)    m  riiAicii. 

SiriA  I'usir.i.A. 

CllAR.  Above,  ashy  blue  ;  top  (jI  lu'ad  and  ircU  lnnwn;  wintespot 
on  b.iek  of  neck;  wings  bhick  ami  iiluish  ;  iiiicidli'  tail-fealhers  hke  back, 
otiieis  black  tipped  with  l)liii>ii  ;  iKiiealli.  dull  brownish  white  tinged 
with  pale  ash  bchintl;  throat  white.  IJill  lung,  skiuler.  anil  acute. 
Length  4  to  4I2   inches. 

^\'c.f/.  In  open  woodland;  an  excavation  in  a  dead  stmnp,  lined  with 
i^rass,  leaves,  and  f(:athcr> 

/vj,:;'-,f.  4-6;  white,  thickly  marked  with  fine  spots  of  reddi.-h  br^wn  and 
pale  lilac  ;  0.60  X  0.50. 

This  small  species  is  seldom  seen  to  the  iKjrth  of  tlic  State 
of  Virginia.  In  the  Southern  States  it  is  rather  common,  and 
is  also  met  with  in  the  island  of  Jamaica.  Like  the  last,  which 
it  resembles  in  manners,  it  is  very  fond  of  pine-trees,  and 
utters  a  similar  note,  hut  more  shrill  and  chirping.  Its  food, 
besides  the  seeds  of  the  i)ine,  is  iisnally  the  insects  which  infest 
the  forest  trees.  In  winter  fumilii  s  of  this  species  of  8  or  10 
individuals  may  be  seen  biisii)-  hunting  in  company,  and  keep- 
ing up  a  per[)etual  and  monotonous  screeping.  It  is  less 
suspicious  than  most  other  s\ Kan  birds,  sometimes  descending 
down  the  trimk  of  a  tree  watching  the  motions  of  the  by- 
stander; and  if  the  intrusion  happens  to  be  near  the  nest,  or 
while  engaged  in  digging  it  out,  the  little  harmless  me<  hanic 
utters  a  sort  of  complaining  note,  and  very  unwillinglv  relin- 
(juishes  his  employment,  which  is  instantly  renewed  on  the 
removal  of  the  observer. 

This  species  is  restricted  to  the  Southern  and  (".ulf  States,  rarely 
wandering  nortli  of  X'irginia  and  Maryland:  but  examples  have 
been  taken  in  New  York,  Missouri,  Ohio,  and  Michigan. 


iiin  iiniilitrn 
rd  uIdiij;  the 
k  to  tlic  (iulf 


in ;  white  spot 
Ikms  like  Vjack, 
I  white  tinged 
er.   anil    acute. 

inip,  lincil  with 

Lli.-<h  biiiwn  and 

1  of  tin-  State 
:omm<>n,  and 
le  last,  which 
le-trcL's.  and 
;.     Its  food, 
wliich  infest 
les  of  S  or  lo 
V.  and  keep- 
It   is   less 
s  descending 
>,  of  the  by- 
the  nest,  or 
■is  mechanic 
[illintj;iy  relin- 
'wed  on   the 

1  Stales,  rarely 
kainples  have 
Wan. 


KKUWN   CRKKI'KK.  ^^j 

r.ROWN    CKKKPKR. 
Cfkihia  FA.MII.IAKIs  amikkana. 

CllAK.  Above.  Kr.iyi^h  brown,  each  fc.ithtr  stre.iki<l  witli  tinll  white; 
rump  iuf<)U>;  winj;s  with  .i  band  of  bulty  white;  lient.ith,  dull  white  or 
pale  grav.     l.enuth  about  Hi  inches. 

.\'ij/.  In  deep  woods,  placed  behiiul  a  >liver  of  loose  bark  on  a 
tlecayed  tree  or  stui) ;  made  of  >hreds  of  bark  anil  ////<</  mo>s  tirmly 
interwoven  and  set  on  a  platform  of  twij^s.  It  is  sometimes  lined  with 
feathers. 

/i";;'.f.  4-.S  ;  white  or  creamy.  —  when  freshly  l.iid,  tinted  with  pale 
roseate,  —  spotted  with  reddish  brown  ;  oAo  X  0.50. 

This  industrious  forager  for  insects,  chiefly  dwelling  in  the 
seclusion  of  the  tbrest,  is  but  seklom  seen  in  the  summer;  but 
on  the  ai)i)roach  of  winter,  with  other  hungry  wanderers  of 
similar  habits  such  as  the  small  \Vood])eckers  and  Nuthatches, 
it  makes  its  appearance  on  the  wooded  ;;kirts  of  the  village, 
l)articularly  among  the  pine-trees,  and  occasionally  becomes 
familiar  enough  to  pay  a  passing  visit  to  the  orcha.''d.  In  this 
country,  however,  the  sjiecies  is  neither  common  nor  familiar, 
nor  is  it  more  abtmdant  in  the  Xorthern  than  the  Midille 
States,  though  its  breeding  range  extends  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Newfoundland. 

'I'he  bill  of  the  Creeper  not  being  of  sufficient  strength  to 
probe  the  wood,  it  rests  contented  u  uh  examining  the  crevict-s 
of  the  bark  for  inserts  and  their  eggs,  proceeding  leisurely 
upwards  or  downwards  in  straight  or  spiral  lines  towards  the 
to])  of  the  tree,  dodging  dexterously  to  the  opposite  side  from 
the  observer,  and  only  resuming  its  occupation  when  assured 
of  solitude  and  safety.  While  thus  em]>loyed  it  utters  at  short 
intervals  a  sharp,  quick,  rather  grating  note,  by  which  its  resort 
may  be  discovered,  though  it  reipiires  some  time  and  a  good 
eye  to  perceive  it  if  on  the  upper  branches  of  a  tall  tree. 
Though  it  lives  chiefly  on  insects,  it  also,  according  to  Wilson. 
collects  the  seeds  of  the  pine  for  food,  and  is  particularly  fond 
of  the  vermin  which  prey  on  those  kinds  of  trees.  In  the 
thick   forests  which   it  inhabits  in  the   Northern  an'l  Western 


5SS 


SINGIXC;    HIRDS. 


u 


m 


Slates  about  the  middle  of  April,  it  commences  the  nest  in  the 
hollow  trunk  or  branch  of  a  tree  which  has  been  exposed  to 
tiecay  by  mjury  or  accident.  Here  in  the  accidental  cavities 
or  deserted  holes  of  the  squirrel  or  Woodpecker  the  Creeper 
deposits  her  eggs.  The  young  creep  about  with  great  caution 
previous  to  taking  to  their  wings. 

The  Brown  Creeper  is  a  coiiinioii  bird  in  New  England,  though 
in  the  southern  portions  it  occurs  in  tlie  winter  only,  'ts  breeding 
area  extending  from  .Maine  and  Minnesota  northward.  In  winter 
it  rantics  as  far  southward  as  the  (iulf  States.  It  is  common  in 
Untario  and  Quebec,  iiut  less  abundant  in  the  .Maritime  Provinces. 
•An  interesting  account  of  the  breeding  habits  of  this  bird,  written 
by  Mr.  William  IJrewster,  appeared  in  the  Nuttall  bulletin  for 
July.  1 8-9. 

.Mr.  iirewster  credits  the  Creeper  with  a  tender  song,  wliich 
falls  upon  the  ear  "  like  the  soft  sigh  of  the  wind  among  the  pine 
boughs." 


B.\H.\MA    HOXKV   CREEPER. 

C<KRI    !.\    r.AHAMF.N'SIS. 

ClIAR.  -Above,  dark  brown;  rump  vellow;  stripe  over  eyes  and  un- 
der parts  dull  white ;  breast  and  edge  of  wing  pale  yellow  ;  tail  broadly 
tipped  with  white.     Length  4'<  inches. 

AV.7.  In  a  low  tree  or  bush;  .1  large,  pen.sile,  dome-shaped  structure, 
the  entra:.  e  at  the  side ;  made  of  weed-stems  and  grass,  and  lined  with 
plant  do'.in. 

^^W'-  --4;  white,  tinged  with  green  and  sjieckled  with  rufous :  0.65 
X  0.50. 

The  home  of  this  species  is  on  tlie  Bahamas,  but  a  straggler 
has  Ijeen  found  on  tiie  coast  of  Florida.  Mr.  C.o.sse  in  his  "  Birds 
o!  Jamaica  "  gives  an  interesting  account  of  this  bird's  habits.  Me 
descri!>es  it  as  obtainiui;  its  food  in  much  the  same  manner  as 
Humming  iJirds.  ])y  probing  tlie  tiowers;  but  instead  of  hover- 
ing in  front  of  a  tlower,  die  Creeper  alights  on  the  tree.  When 
e.vaniining  a  flower  for  the  insects  which  are  at  the  bottom  of  the 
cup,  the  bird  throws  its  liody  into  a  variety  of  positions,  .sometimes 
with  the  b.ack  downward.'  the  better  to  reach  the  interior  of  a 
blossom  with  its  curved  bill  and  jieculiar  tontiue.  The  bird  is 
unsuspecting  and  familiar,  and  freely  r.'sorts  to  the  blossoming 
shrubs  of  a  garden. 


c  nest  in  the 
I  exposed  to 
intal  cavities 
■  the  Creeper 
^reat  caution 

frland,  though 
•.  i*s  breeding 
rd.  In  winter 
is  common  in 
me  l^rovinces. 
s  bird,  written 
1    liuUelin   for 

r  soiig,  which 
iiiong  the  pine 


er  eves  and  un- 
sv  ;  tail  broadly 

aped  structure, 
•md  lined  with 

|th  rufous:  0.65 

Lit  a  straggler 
in  his  "  I'.irds 
IS  habits.     He 
he   manner  as 
lead  of  hover- 
tree.     When 
hottom  of  the 
Ins,  sometimes 
interior  of  a 
The   bird   is 
le   blossoming 


DLACK  AM)  wmri-:  \\ar);i,i:r. 

BLACK    .AM)    WHITE   CREErEK. 
MNInril.lA    VAklA. 

Char.  Above,  black  striped  with  white,  head,  wings,  and  tail  mostly 
black:  beneath,  white,  more  or  less  striped  with  black.  Female  and 
young  without  stripes  on  the  throat.     Length  4 '3  ti»  5 '2  inches. 

Xt  it.  In  o))en  woodland  or  jiasture;  placed  at  the  tojt  of  a  tree  or 
stump,  or  at  the  base  of  a  moss-covered  rock,  xmietimes  in  a  hole  ;  made 
of  grass,  moss,  and  shreds  of  bark,  and  lined  with  grass,  hair,  roots,  and 
vegetable  down. 

i5",,%'/.  4-5;  creamy  white,  thickly  spotted  with  pale  reddish  brown; 
0.65  X  0.50. 

This  remarkable  bird,  allictl  to  the  ("recpcrs,  is  another 
rather  common  summer  resident  in  most  parts  of  the  United 
States,  and  probably  migrates  ]iretty  far  to  the  north.  It 
arrives  in  I^ouisiana  by  the  middle  of  I''e])runry,  visits  Pennsyl- 
vania about  the  second  week  in  .April,  and  a  week  later  a])])ears 
in  the  woo<ls  of  New  Fjigland,  jirotracting  its  stay  in  those 
countries  till  the  beginning  of  October,  and  lingering  on  the 
southern  Hmits  of  the  Union  a  month  later,  so  that  it  does  not 
appear  to  be  mu<'h  affected  by  the  commencement  of  frost, 
and  probably  at  this  season  occasionally  feeds  on  berries. 
As  numbers  are  observed  round  Vera  Uruz  toward  the  com- 
mencement of  winter,  and  are  described  as  inhabiting  the 
West  India  islands,  it  is  probable  they  pass  the  extremity  <j{ 
the  winter  beyond  the  southern  boimdary  of  the   Union. 


T^  ■ 


390 


SINGING    BIRDS. 


^1% 


'fin 


•i ,  I 


U 


l 

i,     ; 

11:1 


Like  the  Creepers  and  Nuthatches,  these  birds  are  seldom 
seen  to  perch  upon  the  branches  of  trees,  but  creep  spirally 
around  the  trunk  and  larger  boughs  up  and  down,  in  quest  of 
insects  which  alight  upon  or  hide  within  the  crevices  of  the 
bark.  In  this  employment  they  dis]ilay  all  the  dexterity  of  the 
more  regular  climbers.  For  this  purpose  the  hind  toe  is  rather 
stout,  and  extends  backward  so  as  to  balance  with  the  anterior 
part  of  the  foot,  and  allow  a  motion  like  that  of  the  Creepers, 
from  which  genus  they  are  at  the  same  time  wholly  distinct. 

At  the  period  of  breeding,  the  male  scrapes  out  a  little 
monotonous  ditty  in  recognition  of  his  mate,  resembling  some- 
what the  syllables  A'  /s/w  tshe  tshe  fsh'  tsluit',  proceeding  from 
high  to  low  in  a  tolerably  strong  and  shrill,  but  somewhat 
filing  tone.  As  the  season  of  incubation  advances,  this  note, 
however,  becomes  more  mellow  and  warbling,  and  though 
feeble,  is  very  pleasing,  bearing  at  this  time  some  resemblance 
to  that  of  the  Redstart  {Sctopha^^a  niticilla).  This  song  is  like 
the  ascending  call  of  'ti;.<cc  'f-iccc  'fiocc  'huee  'tiL'ict.  At  the 
romantic  estate  of  the  Cold  Spring  i)lace  in  Roxbury  the  pro- 
prietor, Mr.  Newman,  pointed  out  to  me  the  nest  of  this  bird, 
which  on  the  27th  of  June  contained  four  young  about  a  week 
old.  Other  birds  of  this  species  I  had  seen  fledged  this  year 
about  the  1 7th  of  the  same  month,  and  as  Wilson  remarks  the 
flight  of  the  young  in  July,  we  may  suppose  that  they  raise  two 
broods  in  the  season.  The  nest  was  niched  in  the  shelving  of 
a  rock  on  the  surface  of  the  grounii,  and  was  externally  com- 
posed of  coarse  strips  of  the  inner  bark  of  the  hemlock-trees, 
which  overshadowed  the  situation.  With  these  were  mixed  soft, 
dissected  old  leaves  and  a  few  stalks  of  dead  grass  ;  the  lining 
was  made  of  a  thin  layer  of  black  hair.  According  to  Audu- 
bon, these  birds  nest  in  Louisiana  in  some  small  hole  in  a  tree. 
and  employ  dr\-  moss  and  a  lining  of  downy  substances.  The 
pair  fed  the  young  before  us  with  affectionate  attention,  and 
did  not  seem  more  uneasy  at  our  presence  than  the  <:ommon 
and  familiar  summer  Yellow  Bird.  They  crej^t  about  the  trunks 
of  the  neighboring  trees,  often  head  downwards,  like  the  Sittas, 
and  carried  large  smooth  caterpillars  to  their  young.     Thia  is, 


PURPLE    MARTIN. 


391 


■e  seliiom 
p  spirally 
n  quf  st  of 
:es  of  the 
rity  of  the 
e  is  rather 
e  anterior 
Creepers, 
listinct. 
ut  a  little 
ling  some- 
ding  from 
somewhat 
this  note, 
nd  though 
^semblance 
song  is  like 
/.     At  the 
-y  the  pro- 
f  this  bini, 
out  a  week 
this  year 
marks  the 
V  raise  two 
helving  of 
nally  com- 
ilock-trees, 
mixed  soft, 
the  lining 
g  to  Audu- 
e  in  a  tree, 
ices.     The 
ntion.  and 
e  iommon 
the  trunks 
the  Sittas, 
This  is. 


in  fact,  at  all  times  a  familiar,  active,  and  unsuspicious  little 
visitor  of  the  shady  gardens  and  orchards,  as  well  as  woods 
and  >oIitiides. 

The  iSlack  and  White  Creeper,  as  this  species  is  usually  called. 
breeds  from  the  Southern  States  to  Fort  Simpson.  It  is  abundant 
in  soutlK-m  New  England,  and  fair'y  common  in  the  .M.uitime 
Provinces. 

It  was  first  clas.sed  with  the  Warblers  by  Si)enc  rr  liaird  in  1S59. 
and  has  been  retained  there  by  all  later  authorities.  Nuttall  con- 
sidered that  there  were  two  .species,  one  of  wliicli  he  named  borcalis  ; 
but  it  has  not  been  considered  valid,  thouirh  Kidirwav,  in  liis  ••  .Man- 
ual."  >uggests  the  name  .1/.  xuitia  hoyealis  tor  a  .supi)0sed  .Missis- 
sippi valley  and  Middle  American  race,  which  lie  describes  as 
somewhat  smaller  than  true  7'aria ;  but  he  thinks  the  material  at 
hand  insutificicnt  to  warrant  a  positive  decision,  so  we  are  saved  the 
infliction  of  this  much  "hair-splitting." 


PURPLE    MARTIN. 

PrOGNK    SLlilS. 

Char.  Male:  lustrous  black  with  purple  tint,  wings  and  tail  with 
brownish  tint.  Female  and  young :  browner  above,  and  beneath  grayish. 
Length  -]z  inches. 

Xist.  In  a  bo.\,  or  attached  to  the  eave  of  a  house  ;  sometimes  in  a 
decayed  tree :  made  of  grass,  leaves,  etc. 

E^^s.    4-6:  white  and  glossy  ;  095  X  075. 

According  to  the  progress  of  the  season  in  the  very  different 
climates  of  the  United  States,  is  measured  the  arrival  of  this 
welcome  messenger  of  spring.  Around  the  city  of  New  Or- 
leans, for  example,  the  Purple  Martin  is  seen  from  the  ist  to 
the  9th  of  Febniar)-.  .\t  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio,  it  is  not  seen 
before  the  middle  of  March,  and  representatives  do  not  arrive 
in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia  tmtil  the  first  week  in  .April  ;  on 
the  25th  of  that  month,  or  later,  they  visit  the  vicinity  of  Bos- 
ton, and  penetrate  even  to  the  cold  regions  of  fludson  Hay, 
where  they  arrive  in  May  and  retire  in  .\ugust  ;  about  the  20th 
of  the  same  month  they  also  leave  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  inigrations  of  these  birds  are  remarkably  extensive,  as 
they  were  seen  by  Mr.  Swainson  in  great  numbers  arounjl   Per- 


Ifllfl 


B 


•li 


if; 


<ii. 


i  < 


^ :   !l'. 


ii. 


.1 


]  \> 


;>:'! 

'S!!! 
I   I 

!-.' 


•r<.      f[ 


SINGING    BIRDS. 


nanibuco.  Mr.  Townsend  met  with  tlicni  on  the  Rocky  ^loun- 
tains,  ami  Authiboii  observed  them  breeding  in  Texas.  In 
Oregon  we  tound  them  nesting  in  the  knot-holes  of  the  oaks, 
and  they  <li<l  mn  appear  to  court  the  society  of  man,  as  we 
seldom  saw  them  near  the  fort.  In  their  haste  to  return  to 
their  natal  climes,  they  sometimes  expose  themselves  to  fatal 
accidents  from  (  hangeable  and  unfa\orable  weather.  In  the 
maritime  parts  of  Massachusetts,  and  i)rol)ably  throughout  the 
State,  a  few  years  ago  after  a  rainy  midsummer,  many  were 
found  dead  in  their  boxes,  and  they  have  since  been  far  less 
numerous  than  formerly. 

This  beautiful  sj)ecies,  like  many  others  (jf  the  tanuly,  seeks 
out  the  (iwellings  of  man,  associating  itself  e(|ually  with  the 
master  and  the  slave,  the  colonist  and  the  aboriginal.  Vo  the 
Martin  it  is  indifferent  whether  its  mansion  be  carved  and 
painted,  or  humbled  into  the  hos|)itable  shell  of  the  calabash 
or  gourd.  Secure  of  an  asylum  for  its  mate  and  voun. ,  while 
under  the  protection  of  man  it  twitters  forth  its  gratitude,  and 
is  everywhere  welcomed  to  a  home.  So  eager  is  it  to  claim 
this  kind  of  protection  that  sometimes  it  \entures  hostilities 
with  the  Jjluebirds  and  tlomestic  Pigeons,  wiio  are  often  forced 
to  abandon  their  hereditary  claims.  Satisfied  with  tiie  rece])- 
tion  and  success,  like  so  many  contented  and  taithtul  domes- 
tics, it  returns  year  after  year  to  the  same  stition.  The 
services  t)f  the  Martin  in  driving  awav  Hawks  and  ("rows  from 
the  premises  he  claims,  are  also  important  inducements  tor 
f^ivor ;  he  has  even  the  courage  to  attack  tlie  redoubtable 
Kingbird,  when  its  visits  are  too  familiar  near  the  nest. 

At  the  ai)i)roaching  dawn  the  merry  Martin  begins  a  lively 
twitter,  which,  continuing  for  half  a  minute,  subsides'until  the 
twilight  is  fairly  broken.  To  this  ])relude  succeeds  an  ani- 
mated and  ificessant  musical  chattering,  sufficient,  near  the 
dwelling,  to  awaken  the  soundest  sleeper.  His  early  vigils  are 
scarcely  exceeded  by  the  domestic  Cock ;  tiie  industrious 
farmer  hears  the  pleasing  call  to  labor,  and  associates  with  this 
favorite  bird  the  idea  of  an  economical,  cheerful,  and  useful 
guest. 


PURPLE  MARTIN. 


393 


:ky  Nioun- 
Vxas.  In 
f  the  oaks, 
nan,  as  we 
return  to 
es  to  fatal 
r.  In  the 
mhout  the 
iiany  were 
en  far  less 

niil>,  seeks 

y  with  the 

1.      Vi)  the 

arved   and 

K-  calabash 

junu.  while 

titude,  and 

it  to  elaini 

f,  hostilities 

ften  forced 

the  rece])- 

iul  donies- 

ion.     The 

rows  from 

enients   for 

cdouhtable 

St. 

ns  a  lively 
s'until  the 
ds  an  ani- 
,  near  the 
V  vi.^ils  are 

ndustrions 
L's  with  this 

and  useful 


In  the  Mitldle  States,  from  the  15th  to  the  20th  of  April, 
the  .Martins  begin  to  prepare  their  nest,  which  ir>  uMially  maile 
of  small  green  or  dry  leaves,  straws,  hay,  anil  feather>.  laid  m 
considerable  (luantities.  They  rear  two  broods  m  the  >ea->ou. 
Several  pairs  also  dwell  harmoniously  in  the  s;ime  l>o.\.  Ihe 
male,  very  attentive  to  his  sitting  mate,  also  takes  part  in  liie 
task  of  incubation  ;  and  his  notes  at  this  time  ha.e  apparently 
a  peiailiar  and  expressive  tenderness. 

The  food  of  the  Martin  is  usually  the  larger  winged  uisccis, 
as  wasps,  bees,  large  beetles,  such  as  the  conunon  Ct/i>///<is,  or 
goldsuiilhs,  which  are  swallowed  whole.  His  flight  i)ossesses 
all  the  swiftness,  ease,  and  grace  of  the  tribe.  Like  tile  Swift, 
he  glides  along,  as  it  were,  without  exertion.  .Sjmetimes  he  is 
seen  passing  through  the  crowdetl  streets,  eluding  the  pa»en- 
gers  with  the  rapidity  of  thought  ;  at  others  he  ^aiU  among 
the  clouds  at  a  ili/,/y  height  like  something  almost  ethereal. 

The  Purple  Martin  occurs  througlinut  the  Maritime  Provinces, 
though  nowhere  common,  and  is  extremely  local  in  its  distriliution. 
It  is  rather  rare  near  Quebec,  but  common  at  Montreal  and 
throughout  Ontario.  Ohser\ers  in  Winnipeg  consider  the  bird 
abundant  there,  and  it  is  said  to  range  nortli  to  the  .Saskatcliewan 
valley.  It  breeds  from  the  C,u\i  States  nortluvard.  and  winters  in 
.Soutii  America. 

Small  colonies  of  these  .\Lu'tiiis  are  found  scattered  througli 
New  Lnglaiul  at  wiilely  separated  localities,  accepting,  usually,  the 
j^roffered  hospitality  nf  tVinulK  villagers  who  provide  dieni  with 
homes,  though  an  occasional  eoterie  may  be  found  nesting  in  the 
]>rimitive  manner  of  their  ancestors. — rearing  their  broods  in 
natural  cavities  of  trees  or  in  crevices  of  rocks,  as  was  the  custom 
of  tlieir  race  before  the  luiropeans  led  them  into  more  Sybaritic 
habit.s. 


XOTK.  —  The  CruAN  M  AK UN  {Pmgnt  Liyptoiciica)  is  a  siiinme' 
resident  of  southern  Florida. 


I  ■ 

1. 

■  ! 
t 

..(■ 

jl 

w 


'II ' ' 


!  i 


■    1 

f       > 

i    ' 

i 

1,  ;y. 

^^^^^. 

,     , 

I 


BARN    SWALLOW. 
Chi  i,ii)( )\  r.Rv inRocAsi RA. 

Chak.  Upper  parts  slccl  blue;  forehead,  throat,  and  breast  rich 
chestnut  ;  belly  i)aler  ;  tail  deeply  forked,  —  outer  feathers  several  inches 
longer  than  the  inner.     Length  ^^i  to  7}^  inches. 

AV.f/.  Attached  to  a  rafter  of  a  barn  or  the  side  of  a  cave;  cuii 
shaped;  made  of  pellets  of  nuul  bound  with  grass,  antl  lined  with  grass 
and  feathers. 

ACs-*^  3-(*'-  white,  variously  marked  with  dark  brown,  reddish  brown, 
or  inirplish  brown  and  lilac;  0.75  X  0.55. 

The  Barn  Swallows  arrive  in  Morida  and  the  maritime  parts 
of  (teorgia  abotit  the  middle  of  March,  but  are  not  seen  in  the 
Middle  States  before  the  last  of  that  month  or  the  beginning 


DAKN    SWALLUW, 


395 


lud  breast   rk\\ 
several  inches 

|)t   a  cave ;   cup 
Led  with  grass 

reddish  brown, 


Lxritime  parts 

It  seen  in  the 

he  beginning 


of  April.  Their  northern  migration  extends  to  the  sources  of 
the  Mi'^'-jssippi.  the  kocky  Mountains,  and  the  fur  countries, 
where,  uisi.int  from  the  habitatii^ns  of  man,  tiny  inhabit  caves, 
parti<  ularly  tho>c  in  the  hmestone  nj(  k^.  'I  hey  retire  from 
.\hissa<hu!>etts  a\nnn  the  i  Sih  of  September,  and  are  observed 
in  the  -ame  month  and  in  October  passing  over  the  jjcnin- 
sula  of  Florida  on  their  way  to  tropical  Americ  a,  where  they 
probably  pass  the  winter.  I  have  seen  a  straggling  i)air  in 
this  vicinity  even  on  the  15th  of  ( )ctober.  The  ileetness  with 
which  they  move,  and  the  i>eculiarity  of  their  inse(  t  fire,  are 
circumstances  which  would  impel  a  prom])t  transition  to  more 
favorable  climates.  Accidental  fits  of  torpidity.  like  those 
which  occasionally  an<l  transiently  take  ])lace  with  the  Htnn- 
ming  Hird.  have  undoubtedly  hap])ened  to  Swallows,  without 
proving  anything  against  the  general  migrating  instinct  of  the 
species,  which  as  long  back  as  the  time  of  .\nacreon  has  been 
generally  obser.ed. 

Early  in  May  they  begin  to  build  against  a  beam  or  rafter, 
usually  in  the  bam.  The  external  and  rounding  shell  is  made 
of  pellets  of  mud  tempered  with  fine  hay  and  rendered  more 
adhesive  by  the  glutinous  saliva  of  the  bird;  within  is  laid  a 
bed  of  fine  hay,  and  the  lining  is  made  of  loosely  arranged 
feathers.  They  have  usually  two  brocnls  in  the  season,  an<l  the 
last  leave  the  nest  about  the  first  w^ek  in  August.  'I'wenty  or 
thirty  nests  may  sometimes  be  seen  in  the  same  barn,  and  twt) 
or  three  in  a  cluster,  where  each  i)ursues  his  busy  avocation  in 
the  most  perfect  hannony.  \\hen  the  young  are  Hedged,  the 
parents,  by  their  actions  and  twitterings,  entice  them  out  of 
the  nest,  to  exercise  their  wings  within  the  barn,  where  they  sit 
in  rows  amid  the  timbers  of  the  roof,  or  huddle  closely  to- 
gether in  cool  or  rainy  weather  for  mutual  warmth.  At  length 
they  venture  out  with  their  ]>arents,  and,  incai)able  of  constant 
exercise,  may  now  be  seen  on  trees,  bushes,  or  fence-rails,  near 
some  pond  or  creek  convenient  to  their  focjd  ;  antl  their  diet 
is  disgorged  from  the  stomachs  or  crops  of  their  attentive 
parents.  When  able  to  i»rovide  for  themselves,  they  are  still 
often  fed  on  the  wing,  without  either  party  alighting ;  so  aerial 


ik: 


396 


SINGING   i;iKJ)S. 


ami  light  arc  all  their  motions  thai  the  atmosphere  alone 
seems  to  be  their  favorite  elemeni.  In  the  latter  end  oi 
summer,  jjarties  of  these  social  birds  may  be  often  seen  by  the 
sides  t)f  dusty  roads,  in  which  they  seem  pleased  to  bask. 

About  the  middle  of  August  they  leave  the  barns,  and  begin 
to  prepare  for  tiieir  departure,  assembling  in  great  numbers  (jn 
the  roofs,  still  twittering  with  great  cheerfulness,  'i'heir  scmg 
is  very  sprightly,  and  sometimes  a  good  while  continued.  Some 
of  these  sounds  seem  like  VV^'  V'A'  VAA////.  uttered  with  rapid- 
ity and  great  animation.  A  while  before  their  departure,  they 
are  observed  skinnning  along  the  rivers  and  ponds  after  insects 
m  s^reat  numbers,  till  the  approach  <jf  sunset,  when  they  assem- 
ble to  roost  in  the  reeds. 

The  Barn  Swallow  is  a  common  liird  tiuougiiout  this   Eastern 
rroviiice,  and  northward  to  (Jrceiihuul  and  Al.iska. 
It  winters  in  tlic  West  indies  and  south  to  lira/il. 


>  I'. 


n 


CLIFF   SWALLOW. 

EAVK   SWALLOW. 
PeTRDCHF.I.IDoX    I. r  MI-RONS. 

Char.  Above,  dark  steel  blue;  loiehcad  dull  white;  wings  and  tiiil 
brownish  black  ;  rump  rufous;  chin,  throat,  and  collar  around  neck  dee)) 
chestnut  ;  patch  of  blue  black  on  breast  ;  remaining;  under-parts  pale 
gray  tinged  with  rufous.     Length  about  5J4  inches. 

A'i's/.  Fastened  to  the  side  of  a  cliff  or  the  cave  >>f  a  building  ;  made 
of  pellets  of  nuid  and  lined  with  grass  and  feathers.  I'suallv  gourd- 
shaped,  the  entrance  at  the  month  of  the  gourd,  —  sometimes  open  on 

tO]). 

i?_;';o'.  4-6;  white,  variously  marked  with  shades  of  bmwn  and  pur])le  ; 
o.So  X  0.55. 

The  Cliff  .Swallows  have  but  recently  come  to  the  notice  of 
naturalists.  Their  summer  residence  in  the  temperate  parts 
of  America  is  singularly  scattered.  They  have  long  occupied 
the  regions  of  the  Rocky  Momitains,  extending  to  the  banks  of 
the  Columbia,  and  the  cliffs  of  the  Missouri,  and  are  probably 
to  be   found  on   other   large   Western   rivers.     According  to 


ij.ifi 


phere  alone 
tier  cntl  of 
seen  by  ihe 

0  bask. 

is,  and  begin 
nuuibi-T.T  on 
Their  ^owj, 
nued.  Some 
(I  with  rapitl- 
•parture,  they 
s  after  insects 
n  they  assem- 

1  this   Kaslcrn 


;  wings  and  l.til 
louiid  iR'ck  deep 
|uiulcr-parts  pale 

building  ;  made 

I'suaHy  gnuid- 

Inetimcs  open  on 

iwu  antl  purple ; 

the  notice  of 
[mperate  \iarts 
[long  occupied 
|()  the  banks  of 
[l  are  probably 
According   to 


CLllK    ^W  ALLOW. 


397 


Richartlson  they  are  extremely  alnnulant  in  the  fui  countries, 
in  US15  they  were  observed  for  the  first  time  at  Henderson, 
on  tile  banks  of  the  Uhio,  and  at  Newport  in  K«"nucky.  In 
1.S17  tiiey  made  their  appearance  at  Whitehall,  near  Lake 
C.hamplain,  in  the  western  part  of  the  State  of  Nc\.  N'ork.  In 
these  places  their  increase  seems  to  have  kept  pace  with  the 
time  since  their  arrival,  augmenting  their  nest;,  from  a  single 
(luster  to  several  hundreds  in  the  course  of  four  or  five  years, 
^'ieillot  observed  one  at  sea  off  Nova  Scotia,  and  they  have,  in 
fact,  long  been  commonly  known  in  that  Province.  In  i.SiS, 
as  I  learn  from  J.  W  .  lioott,  Kscp,  they  began  to  build  at  Craw- 
ford's, near  the  base  of  the  White  Mountains  of  New  I!  ,.ip- 
shire.  In  the  summer  •  '^30  a  few  nests  were  seen  by 
(leneral  Dearborn  at  Winthru  in  Maine:  he  hatl  also  heard 
of  one  at  (lardiner  in  the  u;me  State.  The  hibernal  retreat  of 
these  birds  would  apj)ear  to  be  in  the  West  Indies,  as  they 
were  seen  in  I'orto  Rico  b}  Vieillot,  and  one  was  also  observed 
in  St.  1  )omingo  by  the    Miie  auth(jr. 

In  the  Western  States  they  arrive  from  the  South  early  in 
Ajjril,  and  almost  immediately  begin  to  construct  their  nests. 
They  commence  their  labor  at  the  dawn,  and  continue  their 
operations  until  near  mid-day.  The  nests  are  made  of  pellets 
of  sandy  mud.  disposed  in  layers  until  the  fabric,  with  its 
entrance,  assumes  the  form  of  a  projecting  retort,  agglutinated 
to  cliffs  or  the  walls  of  buililings  as  convenience  may  oiTcr. 
From  the  nature  of  the  friable  materials  employed,  the  whole 
is  frail,  and  would  cnimble  in  the  ])ossession  of  any  but  the 
airy  owners.  The  internal  lining  is  of  straw  and  dried  grass 
negligently  disposed  for  the  reception  of  the  eggs.  They  raise 
but  a  single  brood,  who.  with  their  jiarents,  after  several 
attempts  at  mustering,  finally  disappear  in  August  as  suddenly 
as  they  came.  Mr.  Townsend  says:  "In  the  neighborhood  of 
the  Columbia  River  the  Cliff  Swallow  attaches  its  nest  to  the 
trunks  of  trees,  making  it  of  the  same  form  and  materials  as 
elsewhere."  The  face  of  Pillar  Rock,  an  isolated  columnar 
mass  of  basalt  near  Chinhook.  at  the  estuary  of  the  Columbia, 
was  rendered  still  more  fantastic  and  picturesque  by  the  nests 


398 


SIN(JIN(;    r.IRDS. 


h     i 


If' 


# 


ot"  the  (lit'f  Swallow  with  which  it  was  laced;  a  small  colony 
having  taken  up  their  abotle  here.  These  were,  as  usual,  made 
of  pellets  of  mud,  enclosed  at  the  toj),  but  without  the  retort 
necks. 

Like  the  rest  of  their  congeners,  these  birds  are  almost  per- 
petually on  the  wing  m  (juesi  of  tlies  and  other  small  insects 
which  constitute  their  (ordinary  food.  ihcir  note  does  not 
appear  to  resemble  a  twitter,  and  according  to  Audubon  it 
may  be  imitated  by  rubbing  a  moistened  cork  round  in  the 
neck  of  a  bottle.  In  Kentucky,  until  the  connnencement  (jf 
incubation,  the  whole  party  resorted  to  roost  in  the  hollow 
limbs  of  the  buttonwood-trees.  However  curious,  it  is  certain 
that  the  birds  have  but  recently  discovered  the  advantage  of 
associating  round  the  habitations  of  men. 

Numerous  colonies  of  this  species  are  touiul  throughout  Xew 
Kngland  and  the  Maritime  Provinces,  and  a  tew  paiis  have  been 
seen  at  I-\)int  de  Moiits,  on  the  north  shore  ot  the  (nilt  ot  St.  Law- 
rence, which  is  till-  limit  of  its  northward  range  near  the  Atlantic, 
though  in  the  interior  it  rangrs  much  farther  nortii.  It  Ijreeds 
southward  to  the  C.ulf  States,  ami  winters  in  South  America. 

It  is  higlily  prob.it)'e  tliat  the  habit  of  breeding  in  large  conunu- 
nities.  and  tlnis  becoming  *•  local"  in  distribution,  will  account  for 
the  report  of  their  having  moved  eastward  during  the  tirst  half  of 
the  present  century.  As  a  matter  of  fact.  Audubon  discovered  the 
species  in  Kentucky  tive  years  before  Say  found  it  amont,'  the 
Pvockies.  'I'hat  the  older  writers  knew  so  little  about  the  bird 
should  not  be  taken  as  evidence  of  its  absence.  tlu'\-  failed  to 
learn  the  Instory  of  several  ecpially  connnon  species;  and  after  the 
added  years  we  are  still  ignorant  of  the  breeding  habits  of  some  of 
these  birds. 


NoTK. — The  CcRAN  Clifk  Swaliow  {J\'trochi'lidon  fnliui) 
has  been  taken  in  Florida. 


mall  I olony 
usual,  made 
at  the  retort 

almost  j)t'r- 
imall  insects 
tc   does   not 

Audubon  it 
ound  in  the 
ctueinent  oi 
11  the  hollow 
,,  it  is  certain 
ad\antage  of 

ouj^hout   New 
iiir.s  have  been 
Lilt"  ot  St.  Law- 
■  tin-  Atlantic, 
h.      It   breeds 
\meriea. 
Vm'^c  lommu- 
1  account  tor 
e  tirst  half  of 
liseoverod  the 
t   amoiVi;  the 
).nit  the    bird 
liuv   failed  to 
and  after  the 
ii^  of  some  of 


\clic/i>ii  Jiili'ii) 


TRKE   SWALLOW. 

\VII1TE-I5ELLIED   SW.M.LOW .     >IN(iIN(;   SWALLoW. 
'I'.\C11V(  INKIA    I'.HOKiR. 

Cmak.  Aljovc,  ricli  steel  hhic,  \viiit;s  ;iiul  tail  willi  green  ictlcctiuns  ; 
l)eneatli,  white.     Length  about  6  inches. 

Xist.  In  a  cavity  of  a  tall  dead  tree.  —  often  a  deseited  Woodpecker', 
hole,  —  sometimes  in  a  hiitl  hox  ;  made  of  grass  and  straw,  lined  with 
featiiers. 

E^i^^s.     4-9  (usually  5) ;  white  ;  0.75  X  0.55. 

'I'his  species,  less  common  than  tiie  Uarn  Swallow  and  nearly 
allied  to  the  common  Martin,  arrives  in  iVnnsylvania  and 
New  England  about  the  middle  ot". April,  and  extends  its  migra- 
tions over  the  continent  nearly  to  the  .An  tic  circle,  having 
been  seen  by  Dr.  Richardson  in  the  latituiU'  of  53°  ;  it  is 
also  abtmdantly  dispersed  over  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the 
('olimibia  River,  where  it  breeds,  as  well  as  around  Hudson 
I5ay  and  throughout  the  Northern  and  Middle  States.  On  its 
arrival,  like  many  other  species,  it  seeks  out  the  society  of 
man  and  frequently  takes  possession  of  the  mansion  of  the 
Martin.  When  these  advantages  are  imattainable  it  will  be 
content  with  the  eaves  of  some  deserted  dwelling,  a  hollow 
tree,  its  ancient  residence,  or  even  an  horizontal  branch  when 
large  and  convenient. 

The  note  of  these  birds  is  a  shrill,  lively,  warbling  twitter  : 
but  they  are  more  quarrelsome  and  less  sociable  in  the  breed- 


1 

( 

I 
i 

1 

1 

*    I 


1 

I 


ik 

^^  i 

400 


SIN(;iN(;    IMRDS. 


iiiji  M-ason  that  the  IJarn  Swallow.  In  the  spring  their  pro- 
t rat  led,  angry  contentujns,  and  rapid  chatter  are  often  heard  in 
the  air.  Their  food  is  similar  to  that  of  the  species  above 
mentioned,  and  they  make  a  snapping  sound  with  the  bill  in 
the  act  of  seizing  their  prey.  1  hey  proceed  to  the  South  m 
Sej)tember,  anil  accijrding  to  the  observations  of  Audubon 
pass  nearly,  if  not  (juite,  the  whole  winter  in  the  cypress  swamps 
near  to  New  Orleans,  and  i)robably  in  the  Mexican  vicinity. 
He  i>bserv(Ml  them  about  the  middle  of  December,  and  also 
near  to  the  close  of  January.  •*  During  the  whole  winter  many 
retired  to  the  holes  around  houses,  but  the  greater  number 
resorted  to  the  lakes,  and  spent  the  night  among  the  branches 
of  the  wax-myrtle,"  whose  berries  at  this  season  afford  then)  a 
su|)j)ort  on  whi(  h  they  fatten,  and  are  then  considered  as  excel- 
lent food,  .\bout  sunset  they  usuall)'  began  to  Ibx  k  togethi'r 
at  a  peculiar  call,  and  were  then  seen  almost  in  clouds  moving 
towards  the  neighboring  lagoons  or  the  estuaries  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. Before  alighting  they  perform  their  aerial  evolutions 
to  reconnoitre  the  place  of  roosting,  soon  after  which  they 
rapidly  descend  as  it  were  in  a  spiral  vortex  almost  like  the 
fall  of  a  water-spout,  and  when  within  a  few  feet  ol  the  wax- 
myrtles  they  disperse  and  settle  at  leisure  ;  but  their  twittering 
and  the  motions  of  their  wings  are  heard  throughout  the  night. 
At  dawn  they  rise,  at  ln>it  llying  low  over  the  waters  whi(  b. 
they  almost  touch,  and  then  rising  gradually  separate  in  (]uest 
of  food.  During  their  low  Ibght  numbers  of  them  are  often 
killed  by  canoe-men  with  the  mere  aid  of  their  l)a(ldk■^ 
(Aul)ubon).  This  jiredilection  for  the  borders  of  lakes  and 
ponds  led  some  of  the  an(  lent  writers  to  believe  that  Swallow^ 
retired  to  the  bottom  of  the  water  during  the  winter  ;  and 
some  fishermen  on  the  coast  of  the  Haltic  pretended  to  have 
taken  them  up  in  their  nets  in  large  knots,  clinging  together 
by  their  bills  and  claws  in  a  state  of  torpidity. 

'ilu'  Tree  Swallow  breeds  from  tlic  (iiill  Slatrs  north  to  tlie 
fur  countries,  and  winters  from  tlie  SoutliLrii  States  to  Central 
America.  .Mr.  William  Brewster  believes  that  tliese  l)ir(ls  liavc 
l)een  driven  from  the  cities  ot  soutliern  .\ew  England  by  tlie  House 
Sparrows. 


r  ilu'ir  l»n)- 
i-n  hcanl  in 
ifcics  a\)()ve 
1  the  bill  in 
K'  South   \n 
)f  Amhibon 
ircss  s\vam|)s 
can  vicinity. 
)lt,  and  also 
winter  nvmy 
atcr  number 
tin-  branches 
iftbnl  them  a 
•red  as  excel- 
lock  together 
louds  movinii 
i  of  the  Mis- 
rial  evolutions 
■r  which  they 
Imost  like  the 
■t  ot  the  wax- 
uir  twittering 
out  the  night, 
waters  whi(  1^ 
arate  in  quest 
um  are  oUen 
|their    paddles 
i)f  lakes  and 
that  Swallows 
winter  ;  and 
nded  to  have 
iging  together 

iiortli  to  the 

[es  to  Central 

|sc  birds  have 

by  the  1  louse 


«1 


liWK    SWALLOW. 

.-^AND   MARTIN. 

CJ.IVIC()I-\    KIIAKIA. 

("h\k  .\l)ovc,  (lull  gr.-iy:>ii  Urowii,  which  cxtciids  anHnv.i  the  neck 
and  across  the  breast;  throat  .ind  belly  while.     Length  about  5  inches. 

A'est.  At  the  end  of  a  l)urrow  excavated  in  a  hank  of  sand  or  pravcl, 
—  usually  wuhiii  a  tew  feet  ■>!  the  top  ;  the  bank  izennallv  n-ar  a  stream 
of  water  ;  the  excavation  i>  2  to  4  feet  deep,  and  widens  at  the  inner  md, 
where  a  little  dry  grass  and  a  few  feather-  .ire  loosely  placed,  and  on  tlii> 
cushion  the  c^t^s  are  laid. 

AVa'.".     4-^;  white;  0.70  X  050. 

These  plain-looking  and  smaller  birds,  though  eiiually  grega- 
rious with  other  kinds,  do  not  court  the  protection  or  society 
of  man,  —  at  least  their  habitations  are  remote  from  his.  They 
commonly  take  possession  for  this  purpose  of  the  sandy  bank 
or  bluff  of  a  river,  cpiarry,  or  gravel  jiit,  2  or  3  feet  below  the 
u|)per  surface  of  the  bank.  In  such  places,  in  the  month  of 
April,  they  may  be  obser\'ed  burrowing  horizontally  with  their 
awl-like  bills,  when  at  length,  having  obtained  a  foot-hold  in 
the  cliff,  they  also  use  their  feet  and  continue  this  labor  to  the 
dejjth  of  2  or  3  feet.  Many  of  these  holes  may  be  often  seen 
within  a  few  inches  of  each  other.     This  spe     ;s  has  gener- 

VOL.  I.  —  26 


402 


SirCING    UIKDS. 


?:■■  ' 


ally  two  broods  in  the  season,  and  on  the  egress  of  t'nc  youni; 
in  the  latter  t.nd  of  May  the  jjiratieal  Crows  often  await  their 
o|»i>ortunity  to  destroy  them  as  they  issue  from  the  iu-)i.  In 
rocky  countries  the  birds  often  take  possession  of  the  clefts 
on  the  banks  of  riwrs  for  their  dwelling,  and  sometimes  ihey 
content  themselves  with  the  holes  of  trees. 

Their  voi(  e  is  only  a  low  twitter  of  short  lisping  notes  ;  and 
while  busily  passing  baekwards  and  forwanls  in  the  air  around 
ihejr  numerous  burrows,  they  seem  at  a  di>tan<e  almost  ~.miilar 
to  hiving  Ix^-s.  As  they  arrive  earlier  than  other  species,  the 
cold  and  unsettled  weadier  often  drives  them  for  refuge  in 
their  holes,  where  they  cluster  together  for  warnuli.  and  have 
thus  been  found  almost  reducetl  to  a  state  of  torpidit\.  Dwel- 
ling thus  shut  up,  they  are  often  troubled  witii  swarms  ui  infest- 
ing inscct>,  resembling  tleas,  which  assemble  in  great  numbers 
around  their  holes.  Ihey  begin  to  depart  to  the  South  from 
the  close  of  .Sej)tember  to  the  middle  of  October,  .\ltliough 
they  av<M<l  »l\\tlling  mar  houses,  they  do  not  tly  t'rom  settled 
vicinities:  and  parties  of  six  or  more,  several  miles  from  their 
nests,  have  been  seen  skimming  through  the  streets  of  adjacent 
villages  in  the  province  of  Normandy. 

'Ihey  are  found  <in  both  sides  of  N\)rth  AniiTica.  from  the 
shores  of  the  Atlantic  to  the  borders  of  the  Columbia,  and  in 
all  the  intermeibate  region  suited  to  llicir  manner  of  breeding. 
According  to  Auilubon,  tluy  winter  in  great  numbers  in  Florida, 
and  bree<l  from  I.a.brador  to  Louisiana. 

If  the  Bank  .Swallow  was  found  in  Labrador  bv  Aii(lubi>n  it  has 
since  changed  its  liahitat  to  tin-  (.'Xtent  of  (Uscrtint^  that  '  ouiitry, 
for  during  recent  years  only  one  c.xaniple  lias  been  seen  on  the 
northern  side  of  tlie  (iull  of  St.  Lawrence,  though  colonies  have 
iK'cn  found  on  Anticosti  and  the  ^L^g(lalen  Islands. 

In  the  Far  West  tliesi'  birds  rantre  lo  niucli  hii^lict*  latitudes,  a 
few  having  been  met  with  along  the  valley  ot  the  .Mackenzie 
River,  and  in  .Alaska.  They  breed  from  the  Gulf  .States  northward, 
and  winter  in  tlie  tropics,  ranging  as  far  south  as  lini/il.  Ihey 
are  locally  common  throughout  the  E.islern  Slates  and  the  idjoin- 
lag  I'rovince.s. 


i)f  the  yount; 
-n  invait  their 
the  mv..  In 
of  the  clefts 
melimes  they 

iLi  note-. ;  ;in(l 
the  air  around 
:Unu)>t  :.imilar 
cr  species,  the 

for  refuge  in 
null,  and  have 
•l)idity.  Dwel- 
rarnis  of  uifchi- 

ureat  numbers 
the  South  from 
ber.  Althouiih 
fly  from  -ettled 
miles  from  their 
cets  of  ndjarenc 

ii'rira.  from  the 
oUuubia,  and  in 

ler  of  breedini;. 

ihcr-  in  Florida, 

,\u(hil">n  it  has 
lin.Li  that  '  ovuUry, 
It'cn  sei-n  on  the 
In-li  colonic-  have 

L;hor  latitudes,  a 
"'the  Mackenzie 
Itatcs  norlhward, 
lis  r.ra/.il.  They 
Is  and  the  adjoin- 


ROLGIl-WINGKI)   .SWALLOW.  403 


ROLCiH-WlNGKl)   SW.MI.OW . 
SrEL(;ii)f)i''rF.RVX  skrripknms. 

*  H\k.  Above,  grayisli  1  now II ;  l>(.iic:Uli,  l)io\\ni-li  <;r.Ty.  whitening  on 
the  belly.  Edge  ol  wings  rough  to  the  toucli ;  ••i)ut(  r  wcl)  c,f  tlic  tirst 
l-rimary  wi:h  recurved  huoklets  "  which  are  Ln  king  on  liic  vounu'  birds. 
Ixngih  5  to  3 '4  inches. 

Xift.  In  a  cavity  of  a  bank  or  in  a  crevice  of  a  --tone  wall  or  bridge, 
usualiy  near  a  -trt-ani;  made  uf  ilrygra>s  lined  wiiii  tLatiitrs. 

h^^i.    4-7;  wiiitL- ;  0.75  X  0.50. 

We  are  imlebted  to  Audubon  for  the  discovt-rv  of  this  spe- 
cies -rtfi  much  allied  to  the  preceding,',  who  first  ibM-rved  it 
near  iJayrju  Sara,  and  afterwards  in  Scnith  Carolina.  <  )f  its 
habits  he  says  nothing ;  but  it  is  r.irer.  and  he  thinks  its 
habitual  residence  may  prove  to  be  far  lo  tlu-  westward,  — 
perha[>s  the  valleys  of  the  Colinubia. 

This  species  is  more  comiiKin  in  tlie  Western  Faunal  Province 
than  in  the  Kast :  it  is  abundaiu  in  llritish  Cnlmnbia.  hiu  Mr. 
Thompson  has  not  jjut  it  in  his  •'  Birds  of  .Maiiitdb.i."  It  occurs 
reyularly.  hmvever.  throiiLchout  the  Mastern  .Statis  noith  to  New 
York.  Ohio,  and  Illinois,  and  si)arinL;ly  in  Conneiticul  It  lias  also 
been  found  in  parts  of  Ontario. 

In  appearance  and  habits  it  so  closely  rcstnil)Ics  tlic  Lank  .Swal- 
low that  it  may  be  overlooked  by  tlic  casual  observer;  U  does  not, 
however,  confine  its  choice  of  a  nesting  site  to  a  sand-bank,  but 
v.ill  place  its  nest  amid  the  stones  of  a  wall  or  bridi^e,  in  a  crc-vice 
of  a  buildin;:.  f»r  even  in  a  knot-hole.  It  ditfers  also  from  the  Lank 
.Swallow  in  bein^  of  a  paler  color,  and  both  ol  these  birds  dilfer 
from  our  other  swallows  in  weariii":  no  metallic  tints. 


.\«»TE. --The  Ci'r.AN  ("mi  I'  Swai.iow  {Pefroc/ii-/ii/on  f'lilva) 
and  the  IVvhaman  .Swallow  {Calliihcliilon  cyuineoviriiiis)  have 
been  added  to  the  United  States  faima  by  .Mr.  W.  V..  D  Scott. 
who  captured  examples  on  Dry  Tortujj;as  island  during  .March  and 
.\pril.  1^93. 


If: 


1* 


^u     i;  i 


ii 


K  i\(;  RIP. n. 

BEE    MARTIN. 
TyR.AX\US   TYRAXN'US. 

Char.  Above,  blackish  ash,  darker  on  the  head:  beneath,  white; 
breast  tinged  with  g'a\  ;  tail  black,  tipped  witli  broad  band  of  white. 
Crown  with  concealed  patch  of  yellow  or  orange  red.  length  8  to  9 
inches. 

A'ifs/.  On  a  branch  or  in  fork  of  a  tree,  in  garden  or  pasture  ;  com- 
posed of  twigs,  roots,  and  moss,  lined  witii  roots,  horse-hair,  and  feathers. 
The  exterior  is  loosely  laid,  but  the  interior  is  neat  and  compact. 

^-.V-  4-?-  creamy  white,  spotted  with  light  and  dark  brown;  0.95 
X  0.70. 


./-\ 


'»' 


« 


-.^^ 


\ 


•^■ 


beneath,  white; 
Id  band  of   white. 
Length  S  to  9 

I  or  pasture  ;  v;om- 
lair.  and  feathers. 
Ic  impact 
Hark  brown  ;  0^5 


KINtJlilKl). 


405 


This  well-known,  remarkable,  and  pugnacious  bird  takes  uji 
his  siuniner  residence  in  all  the  interniediaie  region  from  ihe 
temperate  parts  of  Mexico  to  the  iniinhabitt-d  and  remote  inte- 
rior of  Canada.  In  all  this  vast  geograijhical  range  the  King- 
bird seeks  his  footi  and  rears  his  young.  Ak ording  to  Audu 
Lxjn  they  appear  in  lA>uisiana  by  the  middle  of  .M an  h  ;  and 
ilxjut  the  20th  of  .\pril  W  ilM)n  remarked  their  arrival  in 
Penn>ylvania  in  small  parties  of  five  or  six  ;  but  they  .ire  >eldum 
seen  in  this  part  of  New  Lnglanil  before  the  middle  of  .May. 
They  are  now  silent  and  peaceable,  until  they  begin  to  pair, 
and  fonn  their  nests,  which  takes  place  from  the  first  to  the 
last  week  m  May  or  early  in  June,  a*  coriling  to  the  advance- 
ment of  the  season  in  the  latitudes  of  40  and  4:;  ilegrees. 
'I'he  nest  IS  usually  built  in  the  orchard,  on  the  horizontal 
branch  of  an  apple  or  pear  tree,  sometimes  in  .111  oak,  in  the 
atljoining  forest,  at  various  heights  from  the  ground,  seld<jm 
carefully  concealed,  and  firmly  fixed  at  the  bottom  to  the  sup- 
|)orting  twigs  of  the  bran«  h.  The  outside  con>i>ts  of  coarse 
stalks  of  dead  grass  an«l  wiry  weeds,  the  whole  well  conne(  ted 
and  iK-dded  with  cut-weed  down,  tow,  or  an  o( casional  rope- 
yarn  and  wcKt]  :  it  is  then  lined  with  <lry,  >leniler  grass,  root 
fibres,  and  horse-hair.  The  eggs  are  generally  t,  to  5,  yel- 
lowish white,  ami  marked  with  a  t"ew  large.  well-d(  Tim  d  >pots 
of  deep  and  bright  brown.  They  ot'ten  build  and  hat(  li  twice 
in  the  season. 

The  Kingbird  has  no  song,  only  a  shrill,  guttural  twitter, 
somewhat  like  that  of  the  Martin,  but  no  way  musital.  At 
times,  as  he  sits  watching  his  prey,  he  calls  to  his  mate  with  a 
harsh  /s/u'H/'.  rather  quitkly  pronounced,  and  attended  with 
some  action.  As  inserts  a]tproach  him,  or  as  he  darts  after 
them,  the  snapping  of  his  bill  is  heard  like  the  shutting  of  a 
watch-case,  ami  is  the  certain  grave  of  his  pre\.  I'.eetles, 
grasshoppers,  crickets,  and  winged  insects  of  all  destriptions 
form  his  prin<  ipal  summer  f(X)d.  I  have  also  seen  him  col- 
lecting the  canker-worms  from  the  I'.lm.  Towards  autumn,  as 
various  kinds  of  iK-rries  ripen,  they  constitute  a  very  consider- 
able and  favorite  part  of  his  subsistence  :  but  with  the  exccp- 


4o6 


I'LVCATCHPJKs. 


.Uil 


tioii  ol  currants  (of  which  lie  only  cuts  pcrhap'  /hen  confineil), 
he  refuses  all  exotic  productions,  cont-.ntin;.;  himself  with 
blackberries,  whortle-berries,  the  berries  of  the  sassafras,  cornel, 
\il)urnuiu.  eltler,  poke,  and  five-leaved  ivy.  Raisins,  foreit;n 
( urrants,  grapes,  cherries,  peaches,  pears,  and  apples  were 
never  even  tasted  when  offered  to  a  bird  of  this  kind,  w!  i;  h  I 
had  many  months  as  my  pensioner;  of  the  last,  when  roasted, 
sometimes,  however,  a  few  mouthfuls  were  relished  in  the 
absence  of  other  more  agreeable  diet.  Berries  he  always  swal- 
lowed whole,  grasshoi)pers,  if  too  large,  were  ])ounded  and 
broken  on  the  tloor  as  he  held  them  in  his  bill.  To  manage-  the 
larger  beetles  was  not  so  easy  ;  these  he  struck  repeatedly  against 
the  ground,  and  then  turned  them  from  side  to  sitle,  by  tiirowing 
them  dexterously  mtcj  the  air,  after  the  manner  of  the  Toucan, 
and  the  inse<t  was  uniforml}'  caught  reversed,  as  it  descended, 
with  the  agility  of  a  |)ractised  cup-and  ball  player.  At  length 
the  pieces  of  the  beetle  were  swallowed,  and  he  remained  still 
to  digest  his  morsel,  tasting  it  distinri';\  soon  after  it  entered 
the  stomach,  as  became  obvious  by  the  ruminating  motion  of 
his  mandibles.  When  the  soluble  portion  was  taken  up,  large 
pellets  of  the  indigestible  legs,  wings,  and  shells,  as  likewise 
the  skins  and  seeils  of  berries,  were,  in  half  an  hour  or  less, 
brought  up  and  ejected  from  the  mouth  in  the  manner  of  the 
Hawks  and  ( )wls.  When  other  food  failed  he  ai)peared  \ery 
well  s;i:iNlied  vidi  fresh  minced  meat,  and  drank  watiM"  tVe- 
quently.  evei  i.;  ing  the  si-vere  frosts  of  January,  whic  h  he 
en<h).''ed  with  .  .nu(  h  difli(u!t\';  basking,  however,  like  Hio- 
genes,  in  the  feeble  beams  of  the  sun,  which  he  followed  round 
th(>  room  of  his  confinement,  well  satisfied  when  no  intruder 
or  coniijanion  threw  him  into  the  shade.  Some  ver\'  cold 
evenings  he  had  the  sagacity  to  retire  under  the  shelter  of  a 
de|iending  bed-(iuilt,  was  very  much  pleased  with  the  warmth 
and  brilliancy  of  lampdight,  and  would  eat  freely  at  an\'  hour 
of  the  night.  Unacquainted  with  the  deceptive  nature  of 
shadows,  he  sometimes  snatched  at  them  for  the  substances 
they  resembled.  I'nlike  the  Vicros,  he  retired  to  rest  without 
hiding    his    heatl    in    the   wing,   and  was  extremely  watchfiil. 


r.iXGTURr). 


407 


11  confined ) , 
limsclf  with 
.ifras,  cornel, 
sins,  foreijin 
apples    were 

and,  w'-  '•■  li  I 
i-hen  roasted, 
ished    in   the 
always  swal- 
iounded    and 
[)  manatee  the 
atedly  against 
-,  by  throwing 
if  the  Toucan, 
it  descended, 
cr.     At  length 
remained  still 
fter  it  entered 
ting  motion  of 
aken  u)),  large 
Is,  as  likewise 
|i  hovir  or  less, 
manner  of  the 
appeared  very 
Ilk   water   I're- 
ary.  wliii  h    he 
vcr,  like   Dio- 
[t)il()\ved  round 
n  no  intruder 
Ime   vc-ry   cold 
u-  shelter  of  a 
Ith  the  warmth 
llv  at  anv  hour 
ive    nature    of 
|he  substances 
lo  rest  without 
K'lv   watchful, 


thougn  not  abroad  till  after  sunrise.  Hi>  taciturnity  :uv\  'disin- 
clination to  friendship,  and  familiarity  m  confnK'mcnt,«VL  -  sirik 
ing  trait>.  His  restless,  (juick,  and  >idc-glan<ing  ey^  -  nabied 
him  to  follow  the  motions  of  his  Hying  insect  prey,  ..;  ^  to  as- 
certain precisely  the  infillible  instant  of  attack.  He  readily 
caught  morsels  of  food  in  his  bill  before  they  rea<:hed  the 
ground,  when  thrown  across  the  njom,  an<l  on  these  octa- 
sions  seemed  pleased  with  making  the  ne<  essary  exertion. 
He  had  also  a  practice  of  ( autiously  stretching  out  iiis  nc(  k. 
like  a  snake,  and  peeping  about  either  to  obtain  sight  of  his 
food,  to  watch  anv  a])proach  of  ilanger,  or  to  examine  any- 
thing that  appeared  strange.  At  length  we  b<'ame  so  well 
ac(|uainted  that  when  very  hungry  he  wotild  express  his  grati- 
tude on  being  \l\]  by  a  slirill  twitter  and  a  lively  look,  which 
was  the  more  remarkable  as  at  nearly  all  other  times  he  was 
entirely  silent. 

In  a  natural  state  he  takes  his  station  on  the  top  of  an 
apple-tree,  a  stake,  or  a  tall  weed,  and  betwixt  the  amusenunt 
of  his  scpieaking  twitter,  employs  him>elf  in  flarting  after  his 
insect  tbod.  Occasionally  he  is  >,een  hovering  over  the  field, 
with  beating  wing,  almost  like  a  Hawk,  sur\eying  the  ground  or 
herbage  for  grasshoppers,  whiih  are  a  favorite  diet.  At  "tiier 
times  these  birds  may  be  observed  in  companies  iiii  kenng  over 
still  waters  in  the  sanie  employment, —  the  gratifi:  .ju  o'.ippe- 
tite.  Now  and  dien,  during  the  heat  of  sumtne.  iliey  are  seen 
to  diji  and  bathe  in  the  watery  mirror:  and  witl^  t'ds  washing, 
drying,  and  pluming,  they  appear  to  be  l>oth  gratifier  and 
amused.  Durir.g  the  season  of  their  sojourn  ';v,'  p.dr  are 
often  seen  moving  about  in  coinfiany.  with  .1  apid  ipiAering 
of  thi'  wings  and  a  continued  tremulous..  .-hriekii:g  twitter. 
Their  energetic  and  amusing  motions  are  most  comirionly  per- 
ft)rmed  in  warm  and  fine  weather,  ami  continue,  with  little 
interruption,  until  towards  the  close  of  August. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  traits  in  the  character  of  the 
Kingbird  is  the  courage  and  affection  which  he  displays  for  his 
mate  and  young  ;  for  on  his  fir^t  arrival  he  is  rather  timid,  and 
readily  dodges  before  the  .Swallow  and  Purple  Martin.     Indeed 


4oS 


FLVCATCnKRS. 


If 


iHl 


iii 
f 


at  this  season  I  have  seen  the  Spotted  Saniljiiper  drive  away  a 
pair  of  Kin^MMrds  because  they  happened  U)  approach  the 
premises  of  lier  nest.  IJut  he  now  be(  cnnes,  on  tliis  important 
occasion,  so  tei'iacioiis  of  his  rights  as  readily  to  commence  tiie 
attack  against  all  his  feathered  enemies,  and  he  pa>ses  several 
months  of  the  summer  in  a  hcene  of  almost  |)erpetual  euntest ; 
and  not  overrating  his  hostile  powers,  he  generally  finds  me.ins 
to  come  off  with  impunity,  ilagles,  Hawks,  (rows,  Jays,  and 
in  sliort  every  bird  whi(  h  excites  his  hUsj)i(ion  by  its  inten- 
tional or  accidental  a])i)roach,  are  attacked  with  skill  and 
t:ourage  ;  he  dives  upon  the  heads  and  backs  of  the  larger 
intruders,  who  become  so  annosed  and  tormented  as  willingly 
to  make  a  i)recii)itate  retreat.  He  pursues  his  foe>  sometimes 
tor  a  mile  :  and  at  length,  assured  of  con(|uest,  he  return*,  to  his 
liromiiniit  wat(  h-ground,  again  (|ui\ering  his  wings  in  gratula- 
tion,  and  rapidly  uttering  his  shrill  and  triumphant  note>.  He 
is  therefore  tiie  friend  of  the  faniur.  as  the  scourge  of  the  pil- 
ferers and  j)lunderers  of  his  croj)  and  barn-yard.  Dut  that  he 
might  not  be  perfectly  harmless,  he  has  sometimes  a  propensity 
for  feeding  on  t!ie  valuable  tenants  of  the  bee-hive;  for  the^e 
he  watches,  and  exult ingly  twittirs  at  the  prospect  of  success 
as  they  wing  their  way  engaged  in  busy  employment  ;  his  (|ui«  k- 
sighted  eyis  now  follow  them,  until  one,  more  suitable  than  the 
rest,  becomes  his  fivorite  mark.  This  selected  victim  is  In- 
some  farmers  belie\ed  to  be  a  drone  rather  tnan  the  stinging 
neutral  worker.  The  selective  discernment  of  the  eyes  of 
thi>  bird  has  often  amused  me  ;  berries  of  different  kinds,  held 
to  my  doine^itic  Kingbird,  however  similar,  wt-re  reje(  ted 
or  snatched  as  they  suited  his  instinct,  with  the  nicest 
discrimination. 

As  the  young  acfpiire  strength  for  their  distant  journey,  they 
may  be  seen  in  August  and  Se|)tember  assembling  together  in 
almost  silent,  greedy,  and  watrhful  parties  of  a  »lozen  or  more, 
feeding  on  various  berries,  particularly  those  of  the  sassafras 
and  cornel,  from  whence  they  sometimes  drive  away  smaller 
birds,  and  likewise  spar  and  chase  each  other  as  the  supj)ly 
dimimshes.      Indeed,   my   domestic   allowed   n(j  other  bird  to 


.\P 


fl<#t?' 


drive  away  a 
pproach  the 
lis  important 
)inincnce  the 
•a>sc»  several 
tual  contest  ; 
funis  means 

AS,  J'iy>»  '^'^'l 
by  its  inten- 
ith  skill  and 
of  the  larger 
•d  as  willingly 
les  sometimes 
return^  to  his 
it(s  in  gratula- 
it  ii()tc-«.  He 
rge  of  the  pil- 

IJut  that  he 

s  a  pro]  tensity 

jve  ;  for  these 

ct  of  success 

nt  ;  his  (iui<  k- 

ible  th  in  the 

victim  is  by 

the  stinging 

the   eyes   uf 
nt  kinds,  held 

i-rr    reje*  ted 
the    nicest 

journey,  they 
ig  together  in 
)zen  or  more, 
iic  sass;ifras 
away  smaller 
is  the  su])])ly 
)ther  bird   to 


KIN(il;lkI). 


AOj 


hve  in  jicace  near  luin  when  feeding  on  similar  food  ;  ami 
though  lame  of  a  wing,  he  often  wat(  hed  his  opportunity  for 
reprisal  and  revenge,  and  became  so  jealous  thai,  uislea«i  of 
being  aniuscti  by  cornjianions,  sometimes  he  (aught  hoM  of 
them  with  his  bill,  and  seemeil  inclined  to  destroy  them  f»)r 
invatling  his  usuri^d  privileges.  In  September  tlie  Kingbird 
begins  to  leave  the  L'nited  States  and  proceeds  to  pass  the 
winter  in  tropical  America.  During  the  i)eriod  of  miu'raticjn 
southward,  Andulion  remarks  that  ihe\  tl\  and  sail  through  the 
air  with  great  ea^e  at  a  considerable  elewition  ;  and  they  thus 
continue  iht-ir  silent  retreat  thrcjughoiii  the  niglit  until  al>)ut 
the  first  of  (l<  loixrr,  when  they  are  no  longer  lu  be  seen 
within  the  Hmib>  of  the  Middle  States. 

We  now  know  that  the  Kingbird  ranges  throughout  North 
America  from  the  tropics  to  the  lower  tiir  (  ountrie>,  though 
not  common  west  of  the  Rockies. 

All  lovers  of  birds  and  of  justice  will  thank  Mis.  <  )Iiv<.  Tliorne 
Milkr  t'lir  her  rwible  defence  of  this  (  liiv.iliims  ami  much  nialiiined 
I)inl,  which  appeared  in  the  ••  Atlantic  .Moiuhly"  for  Auijust.  iS*>o. 
The  systematists  have  dubbed  liiiii  ••  tyrant  of  the  tvrants."  but 
his  .'fiends  know  him  to  be  a  true  kniLclu.  the  real  -  kinu  of  the 
air.*'  Mrs.  .Miller  credits  the  Kiiiiii)inl  with  ••  .i  >i)ft  ind  very 
pleasins;  sont;,**  which  she  lias  heard  •only  in  the  very  early 
morning." 

NoTF.  —The  Arkansas  KiNtnuKn  (T.  7w7/Vv?//»  ditters  from 
fvtitnttHS  in  bein^  light  ashv  <:rav  on  Ik  ;ul.  neck,  and  breast,  md 
other  lower  parts  yellow.  In  si/e  the  two  birds  are  much  the  same, 
some  examples  of  the  Western  form  being  slii^htlv  larger. 

Its  habitat  is  the  Western  filains:  but  specimens  liae  beer 
taken  in  the  Middle  and  Northern   .States. 


if  ■*■ 


^i 


Ul- 


ULlVi:-SII)i:i)    FKVCA'rCHMR. 

COX'JOI'US    l;()RKAI,l.S. 

CiiAK.  Above,  dull  olive  brown,  darker  on  head,  paler  on  rinnp;  tail 
du.-,kv.  tipped  with  nray  ;  wings  diiskv,  with  grav  luiul  ;  lower  pan-  yel- 
lowish white  ;  flanks  i)ale  olive.     Length  7J4  to  S  inclies. 

A'es/.  .Saddled  on  horizontal  limb  of  tall  tree ;  cf  twigs  and  grass  lined 
with  grass  and  moss. 


/u 


3-5;  creamy  white,  spotted  near  larger  end  with  redd 


ish  t 


)rown 


and  pale  j)urple  ;  0.S5  X  0.65. 

This  remarkable  species,  which  appertains  to  the  L^roiij)  of 
Pewees,  was  obtained  in  the  woods  of  Mount  Auburn,  in  this 
vicinity,  \>y  Mr.  John  Hcthune,  of  Cambridj^i',  on  the  7th  of 
Jime,  1.S30.  'I'his,  and  a  second  s|)C(  imen  accjiiired  st 
aft 


)on 


erwards.  were  females  on  the  point  of  imuibation.  A  third 
indivichial  of  the  same  sex  was  killed  on  the  21st  of  |une. 
T.S;,T.     They  were  all   of  them   fat,   and    had   their  stomachs 


ed  with  torn  fragments  of  wild   bei  ,  wasi)s,  and  oth 


er  snii- 


ivni'f 


fill 

ilar  insects.  I  have  watched  the  motions  of  two  other  1 
individuals  who  ai)i)eared  tyrannical  and  (luarrelsome  even  with 
each  other :  the  attack  was  always  accompaniid  witii  a  whir- 
ring, (luerulous  twitter.  Their  dispute  was  apparently,  like 
that   of  savages,  about  the  rights  of  their  respective  himt 


grounds.     One  of  the  l)irds,  the   female,  whom   I 


usually 


ing- 
saw 


alone,  was  mcommonly  sedentary.     Tiie  territory  she 


seemeil 


on  rumii ;  tail 
WLi-  i):iil>  yel- 

nd  grass  lined 

■eddish  hrowii 

K'   i^roui^  of 
)urn,  in  thi^ 
ihf    7lh  i)t' 
[uiroil    soon 
n.     A  thinl 
|sl  of  June. 
II    sloniachs 
otluT  sini- 
lothcr  livnii; 
oven  with 
ith  a  whir- 
L-ntly,   like 
■e  hunting- 
lusually  saw 
llie  seemed 


( HIVE-SIDED   il.VC'A  rclIEU. 


411 


cleteriiiiMed  to  (  hiim  was  circumscribed  by  the  lo|)^  of  a  cluster 
of  tall  Virginia  junipers  or  red  cedars,  and  an  adjoining  elm 
and  decayed  cherry-tree.  I'rom  this  sovereign  station,  in  the 
sohtude  of  a  barren  and  sandy  piece  of  forest  adjoining  Mount 
Auburn,  she  kept  a  sharp  lookout  for  passing  inse<  ts,  an<l  pur- 
sued them  with  great  vigor  and  success  as  soon  as  they  ap- 
l)eared,  s(jmetimes  chasing  them  to  the  ground,  and  generally 
resinning  her  perch  with  an  additional  mouthful,  whi(  h  ^he 
swallowed  at  leisure.  <  )n  descending  to  lur  station  slu-  occa- 
sionally tpiivered  her  wings  and  tail,  rrected  her  blow>y  cap, 
and  kept  up  a  whistling,  oft-repeated,  whining  call  of  '///  '/*//, 
then  varied  to  '///  /•//>,  and  '///  ///,  also  at  times  '///^  '///»  '/>// 
'///  '/>//  '/•//.  '///  '///  ///,  or  7//,  'tti  7//,  anil  7//  7//.  This 
shrill,  pensive,  and  (juick  whistle  sometimes  drop|)ed  almost  to 
a  whisj)er  or  merely  '/a?.  'I'he  tone  was  in  fact  much  like  that 
of  the  '/////  '/////  '/////  of  the  Ki^h  Ilawk.  'ihe  male,  however, 
besides  this  note,  at  long  intervals  had  a  call  of  \-h' f^hilnc  or 
^ICf^hil'i'd,  almost  exactly  in  the  tone  of  the  circular  tin  whistK-, 
or  bir<l-call,  being  loud.  >hrill,  and  guttural  at  the  connnenc  e- 
ment.  'I'he  nest  of  this  |)air  I  at  length  ilistov'red  in  the 
horizontal  branch  of  a  lall  red  cedar  40  or  50  feet  from  the 
ground.  It  was  formed  much  in  the  manntr  of  the  Kingbird, 
externally  made  of  interlaced  deail  twigs  of  tin-  i  idar,  inter- 
nally of  the  wiry  stolons  of  the  common  <  intiuefoil,  dry  grass, 
and  some  fragments  of  branching  /.i(-/tr>i  ox  I'sihui.  It  ( on- 
tained  .^  yc^ung  and  had  probablv  4  eggs.  I'lu'  eggs  had  been 
hatched  about  the  20th  of  June,  so  that  the  pair  had  arrived  in 
thi^  vicinity  about  the  close  of  Ma\. 

I'he  young  remained  in  the  ne>i  no  less  tluui  j  .;  days,  and 
were  fed  from  the  first  on  beetles  and  perfect  insects,  which 
appeared  to  have  been  wholly  digested,  without  any  regurgi- 
tation. Towards  the  close  of  this  i)r<)tracte(l  period  the  young 
( ould  fly  with  all  the  celerity  of  the  parents  ;  and  tlu-y  prob- 
ably went  to  and  from  the  nest  repeatedly  before  abandoning 
it.  The  male  was  at  this  time  extremely  watchful,  and  fre- 
(|uently  followed  me  from  his  usual  residence,  after  my  payin; 
him   I  .isit,  nearlv  half  a  mile,     'i'hese  birds,  whi(  h  I  w at(  In  . 


If 


412 


FLYCATCIIKKS. 


f  i 


.i^<i 


1% 


I 


on  several  mk  <  cssivc  days,  wire  iio  way  timid,  and  alk)\vi  d 
nif  for  sonu'  liine  previous  to  visitm^^  their  nest  to  in\estij,Mte 
llieni  anil  the  premises  they  had  (  hosen,  without  showing  any 
sign  of  alarm  or  particular  ol)ser\ation. 

This  bird  appears  to  have  bi'en  discovered  in  the  fur  coim- 
tries  about  the  same  time  as  in  the  Inited  States.  According 
to  Dr.  Richardson,  the  specimen,  tii^ured  so  spiritedly  in  the 
'*  Northi-rn  /oology  of  Canada."  was  shot  on  ''.e  ))anks  of  thr 
Saskatchewan  as  it  was  tl\ing  near  the  ground. 

In  iS^j,  about  the  middle  of  June,  the  same  i)uir  appar- 
ently had  again  taken  possession  of  a  small  juniper  not  more 
than  300  yards  from  the  tree  they  had  occu|)ied  the  prec  i-ding 
year,  about  14  or  15  feet  up  which  they  had  fixed  their  thin 
twiggy  nest  as  in  the  preceding  year,  it  contained  4  eggs,  on 
which  the  female  had  commenced  sitting;  these,  except  in 
their  su|)erior  si/e,  were  i)recisely  similar  with  those  o(  the 
W'ootl  I'ewee,  —  yellowish-cream  color,  with  dark-brown  and 
lavender-purple  spots,  rather  thinly  disjjersed.  I'.eing  unforli- 
nate  enough  to  shake  t)ut  the  two  eggs  I  inttiided  to  leave  in 
the  nest,  the  pair  had  to  commence  their  labors  of  prepaiing 
for  a  progeny  anew;  and  a  few  days  after,  a  second  nest  was 
made  in  ;inother  Virgini;in  juniper  at  a  very  short  distance 
from  the  preceding.  The  present  year,  however,  they  did  not 
return  to  their  accustomed  retreat,  and  no  individuid  was  seeu 
in  this  \icinity.  In  all  places  it  appears,  in  fac  t,  .1  scarce  and 
widely  disi)ersed  species.  Audubon  has  since  obser\ed  this 
birtl  in  other  parts  of  Massaihusetts,  Maine,  the  Magdalen 
Islands,  and  the  coast  of  Labrador.  He  has  also  -,een  u  in 
(Jeorgia  and  in  Texas.  This  sjiecies  is  a  connnon  inhabitant 
of  the  dark  fir-woods  of  the  Columbia,  where  it  arri\es 
towards  the  close  of  May.  We  again  heard,  at  iiUer\als,  the 
same  curious  call,  like  '^li-phrhca,  and  sometimes  like  the  gut 
tural  sotmil  'ra^/i-p/ic/ur,  commencing  with  a  sort  of  MU])pressed 
chuck;  at  other  times  the  note  varied  into  a  lively  and  some- 
times (\\\\ck  p'f-(/r/(m>ay.  This,  no  doubt,  is  the  note  attributed 
by  Wilson  to  the  Wood  Pewee.  When  approached,  or  when 
calling,  we  heard  the  />///>//  pu. 


li^i. 


CRi:s'n:i>  i  i.\(AI(  iii;k. 


4'^ 


I  allowttl 
lUA'Sti^  111" 
jwing  any 

tur  coun- 
AccordiiiK' 
•dly  in  the 
nks  »)!"  ihc 

iiin-  a|>|>ai- 

r  not  more 

preceding 

tlu'ir  thin 

4  ^\^.^-^<  '>'^ 
cxcL-i'i    in 

osc  of  iIk- 

brown  and 

n;4  unfortu- 

to  leave  in 

t"  (.rcpaiing 

id  nest  was 

rt   distance 

[licy  did  not 

\\  was  seen 

scarce  and 

served   this 

1-   Mat^'dalen 

^een   il  in 

inhabitant 

it    arrives 

UTvals,  the 

ke  the  .^ut 

suppressed 

and  some- 

attributed 

11,  or  when 


'I'lif  olive-sided  l'lyt;U(  Iut  is  a  rare  sunmur  rc^idiiU  in  tiir 
soiilliern  portions  ol  New  l"a»t;lan(l.  but  i>,  (juiie'  lommoii  iit  .Mainl- 
and Ni  w  IJruiiswiek,  and  raiii;i-<  lutrtli  to  about  tlie  50tl>  parallel. 
It  winters  south  to  liie  iropii^. 


CRi;sri:i)  I'lAc.vrciiiiK. 

Mm\k(1us  (KiNnrs. 

(MAK.  Upper  parts  olive,  inclined  to  brown  on  the  he\d  ;  belly  bright 
yellow;  tliro.it  .uul  brca.-^l  ashy  qray:  wint;>  and  t.iil  dnsky,  marked  with 
nitons.     Iliuit  crested.     Lcnj;th  S'j  to  >)  inciics. 

A'rs/.  In  a  cavity  of  a  tree;  of  twigs,  j;rass-roots,  ieat!',Ts,  and  usually 
a  casl-uti  .sii.ikeskin. 

AvV*-  •!-'';  I'K'''  buffy  brown,  marked  with  lines  ot  biowi  oul  |uirple; 
0.85  X  o.t>5. 

This  species,  nearly  unknown  in  New  Mni^dand.  arrives  in 
Pennsylvania  earl\  in  May,  and  builds  his  nest  in  the  (K^erted 
holes  of  the  \\'o()<l|)e(ker  or  llluebird.  lie  also  frecpients  the 
orchard,  and  is  eciually  fond  of  bees  vith  the  Kin^d)ird.  lie 
ha^  no  other  note  than  a  harsh  sipieak,  which  soinids  like  '/<///•, 
'/'"A  /''-•'"'A  'A'.i'7t '//>,  with  a  strong  accent  on  the  first  syl- 
lable, lie  preys  actively  on  insects,  which  he  colk'cts  from 
his  stand,  and,  in  siiort,  has  most  ot  the  manners  and  physi- 
oj^nomy  of  the  whole  section  or  family  to  whic  h  he  briongs. 
The  note  of  the  male  appears  often  delivered  in  anger  and 
im])atien(  e,  and  he  defends  his  retreat  from  the  access  of  all 
other  birds  with  the  tyrannic  insolence  characteristic  of  the 
Kingbird. 

Towards  the  ond  of  summer  these  birds  fei'd  on  berries  of 
various  kintls,  beiuL  particularly  i»artial  to  jjokeberries  and 
whortleberries,  which  for  .1  titne  seem  to  constitute  the  prin- 
cipal food  of  the  young.  They  rem.iin  in  Pennsylvania  till  about 
the  middle  of  Se]itember,  when  they  retire  to  tropical  ,\nierica. 
In  bily,  '*^3'»  I  observed  a  pair  in  an  orchard  at  .Acton,  in  this 
State  (Massachusetts).  They  had  reared  a  brood  in  the  vicinity, 
and  still  appeared  very  stationary  on  the  premises  ;  their  harsh 


^1 


^> 


o^.  \^>^S. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
T.^7  TARGET  (MT-3) 


// 


^ 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


,50      "= 


1.4 


IM 

122 
20 

1.6 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


^Q 


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:\ 


% 


'O 


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414 


FLYCATCHERS. 


pay  up,  and  sometimes  a  sU.-nder  twittering,  as  tlK\-  tO(jl<  the 
perch,  were  heard  ahiiost  from  morn  to  night,  and  resembled 
at  first  the  chirp  of  a  young  Robin.  I'hey  ted  on  the  cater- 
pillars or  vermin  of  some  kind  which  hapi)ened  to  infest  the 
aj)p]e-trees.  I  was  told  that  they  utter  a  different  and  more 
musical  note  about  sunrise  ;  but  of  this  1  cannot  sjieak  from  my 
own  knowledge.  'J'hey  are  unknown  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
sea-coast  of  Massachusetts.  According  to  Audubon,  they  are 
found  on  the  upper  Missouri  during  summer.  Many  also 
pass  the  winter  in  the  warmer  parts  of  Florida.  The)-  also 
breed   in  Texas. 

Tills  species  is  common  in  the  Eastern  States  north  to  Connec- 
ticut and  northern  Ohio  and  in  southern  Ontario.  It  is  rare  in 
portions  of  .Massachusetts,  but  examples  have  been  observed  in 
.Maine  and  New  Brunswick.  It  breeds  south  to  Florida,  and 
winters  in  the  tropics. 

Those  who  know  the  bird  best  say  it  has  the  courage  of  the 
Kingbird,  and  a  knack  of  quarrelling  that  is  all  its  own. 


GR.AY    KINGBIRD. 

TVR.4NNU.S    DOMINICKXSIS. 

Ch.ar.  Very  similar  to  the  Kingbird,  Init  ot"  paler  color  ;  the  upper 
parts,  including  the  head,  being  ashy  gray.  Its  size  is  somewhat  larger,  — 
about  an  inch  in  length. 

Nest.     In  a  tree  ;  composed  of  twigs,  lined  with  roots  or  moss. 

Eg^s,  3-4;  white,  tinged  with  ]iale  buff  or  salmon  pink  and  spotted 
with  brown  and  purple  ;   i.oo  X  0.75. 

This  fine  tropical  species  was  discovered  by  .\udubon  on 
the  Florida  Keys,  where  it  arrives  about  the  first  of  .Xpril,  and 
spreads  over  the  peninsula  as  far  as  Cape  Florida.  It  is  com- 
mon in  Cuba  and  several  other  of  the  West  India  islands. 
Stragglers,  however,  appear  to  wander  at  times  as  far  to  the 
north  as  South  Carolina ;  a  pair  anrl  their  nest  having  been 
found  in  a  college  yard,  where  they  continued  to  return  for 
several  years  in  succession,  rearing  two  broods  in  a  season. 
Its  whole  demeanor  so  much  resembles  that  of  the  common 


I'HCEBE. 


413 


bey  to(jk  the 
ml  resembled 
on  the  cater- 
to  infest  the 
snt  and  more 
leak  from  my 
cinity  of  the 
bon,  they  are 
Many  also 
I.     Thev  also 


rth  to  Coiinec- 
It  is  rare  in 

n  observed  in 
i'lorida.   and 

oura^e  of  the 
:s  own. 


Kingbird  that  but  for  its  superior  size  and  note  it  might  be 
mistaken  for  that  species. 

'I'hese  birds  flutter  while  flying,  and  sometimes  during  the 
breeding  season  the  pair,  crossing  each  others  path,  rise  in 
spiral  evolutions,  loudly  twittering  as  they  ascend.  When 
interrupted,  alarmed  by  pursuit,  or  in  quc-t  of  insects,  they 
dart  off  with  great  velocit).  If  a  large  bird,  as  a  Heron  or 
Crow,  or  indeed  any  intruder,  jiass  near  their  station,  they 
immediately  pursue  it,  and  that  often  to  a  considerable  dis- 
tance. At  the  same  time  they  appear  careless  of  the  approach 
of  man  except  when  the  nest  is  invaded,  when  they  fly  about 
in  great  anger,  snapping  their  bills  and  loudly  chattering  ;  but 
when  relieved  from  their  unwelcome  visitors,  they  return  to 
their  stand  with  notes  of  exultation. 

Nuttall.  following  Audubon,  named  this  species  the  Pipirv  Fly- 
catcher. It  is  abundant  in  the  West  Indies  and  occurs  in  parts  of 
Florida  and  along  the  coast  to  South  Carolina.  ExampL-s  have 
been  taken  on  Long  Island,  and  at  Lynn,  in  Massachusetts. 

It  winters  in  the  tropics. 


olor ;  the  upper 
ewhat  larger,  — 

r  moss, 
link  and  spotted 


.\udubon  on 
of  April,  and 
.  It  is  corn- 
India  islands, 
as  far  to  the 
t  having  been 
to  return  for 
in  a  season, 
the  common 


PHfEBE. 

PEWEE.     PEUIT. 
S.AYORN'IS    VUHV.F. 

Char.  Upper  parts  dull  olive  brown,  darker  on  hea'.  under  part^ 
whitish,  changing  to  pale  veilow  on  bellv.  and  brownish  on  flanks:  wings 
and  tail  dusky,  outer  tail  feathers  and  wins:  bar  whitish  :  white  ring 
around  the  eyes  ;  hill  and  feet  black.  Head  with  inconspicuous  crc^t. 
Length  6^{  to  7  inches. 

M-sf.  Attached  to  the  under-side  of  a  bridse.  or  to  a  rock,  or  the  side 
of  a  cave  ;  of  twigs,  roots,  and  moss,  cemented  with  mud,  lined  with  grass 
and  feathers. 

E{',^s.    4-5;  white,  sometimes  speckled  with  pale  brown  :  080X0.55. 

This  familiar  species  inhabits  the  continent  of  North  .\mer- 
ica  from  Canada  and  Labrador  to  Texas,  retiring  from  the 
Northern  and  Middle  States  at  the  approach  of  winter.     How 


4i6 


MALA  TCI  IKRS. 


^l, 


» 


m 


far  they  proceed  to  the  South  at  this  season  is  not  satisfac- 
torily ;;>(  ertained  ;  a  (cw,  no  doubt,  winter  in  the  milder  jjarts 
of  the  Union,  as  Wilson  saw  them  in  I'ebruary  in  the  swamjjs 
of  North  and  South  Carohna,  where  they  were  feeiling  on 
sniilax  berries,  and  occasionally  even  giving  their  well-known 
notes;  but  in  the  winter  and  early  sj^ring  of  1.S30,  while  em- 
ployed in  an  extensive  pedestrian  journey  from  South  Carolina 
t(j  l''lorida  and  Alabama,  I  never  heard  or  met  with  an  individ- 
ual of  the  s]»ecies.  Audubon  found  them  abundant  in  the 
Floridas   in  winter. 

These  faithful  messengers  of  sj)ring  return  to  Pennsylvania  as 
early  as  the  first  week  in  March,  remain  till  October,  and 
sometimes  nearly  to  the  middle  of  November.  In  Massa- 
chusetts they  arrive  about  the  beginning  of  A])ril,  and  at  first 
chiefly  frecjuent  the  woods. 

Their  favorite  resort  is  near  streams,  ])onds,  or  stagnant 
waters,  al^out  bridges,  caves,  and  barns,  where  they  choose  to 
breed  :  and.  in  short,  wherever  there  is  a  good  prospect  for 
detaining  their  insect  food.  Near  such  ])laces  our  little  hunter 
sits  on  the  roof  of  some  out-building,  on  a  stake  of  the  fence, 
or  a  projecting  branch,  calling  out  at  short  inter\'als  and  in  a 
rapid  manner  phcbc  pJicb'c.  and  at  times  in  a  more  plaintive 
tone  pJicc-hc-cc.  This  quaint  and  querulous  note,  occasionally 
ap])roaching  to  a  warble,  sometimes  also  sounds  like  pcivait 
pnoiiif,  and  ihen  pr-rcai-rr.  also  phcbe  phe-bcc-ec,  twice  alter- 
nated ;  the  latter  phrase  somewhat  soft  and  twittering.  In  the 
si)ring  this  not  unjileasing  guttural  warble  is  kept  up  for  hours 
together  until  late  in  the  morning,  and  though  not  loud,  may 
be  heard  to  a  considerable  distance.  From  a  roof  I  have 
heard  these  notes  full  half  a  mile  across  the  water  of  a  small 
lake  ;  and  this  cheerful,  though  monotonous,  ditty  is  only  in- 
terrupted for  a  few  seconds  as  the  performer  darts  and  sweeps 
after  his  retreating  prey  of  flies,  frequently  flirting  and  quiver- 
ing his  tail  and  elevating  his  feathery  cap,  while  sharply 
watching  the  motions  of  his  fickle  game. 

In  the  Middle  States  he  begins  to  constnict  his  nest  about 
ihe  latter  end  of  March,  in  Massachusetts  not  before  the  first 


rilCEilK. 


417 


not  satisfac- 
;  milder  parts 
n  the  swamps 
.'  feeding  on 
r  well-known 
30,  while  em- 
outh  Carolina 
th  an  individ- 
ndant   in   the 

nmsylvania  as 
October,  and 
.  In  Massa- 
il,  i.nd  at  first 

;,  or   stagnant 
;hey  choose  to 
I  prospect  for 
ir  little  hunter 
p  of  the  fence, 
r\-als  and  in  a 
more  plaintive 
,  occasionally 
s  like  pciLHiit 
twice  alter- 
-rmg.     In  the 
t  uj)  for  hours 
not  loud,  may 
roof  I   have 
ter  of  a  small 
tty  is  only  in- 
ts  and  sweeps 
ig  and  quiver- 
while    sharply 

Hi  is  nest  about 
lefore  the  first 


week  in  .\|,ril.  The  nest  is  situated  under  a  l)riilge,  iii  a  <  ive, 
the  side  of  a  well  5  or  6  feet  down,  under  a  shed,  or  in  the 
shelter  of  the  1<jw  eaves  of  a  cottage,  and  e\en  in  an  empty 
kitcheii  ;  sometimes  it  rests  on  a  beam,  though  ii  is  fretjuently 
attached  to  the  side  of  a  piece  of  roofing  limber  in  the  manner 
of  the  Swallow. 

According  to  the  touching  relation  of  Wilson,  this  humble 
and  intjffensive  bird  forms  'onjugal  attachments  \vhi(  h  jirob- 
ably  continue  through  life ;  for,  like  the  faithful  iJluebirds, 
a  pair  continued  for  several  years  to  freijuent  and  build  in  a 
romantic  ca\e  in  the  forest  which  made  part  of  tiie  estate  of 
the  venerable  naturalist,  William  Ikirtram.  Here  our  unfortu- 
nate birds  had  again  taken  up  their  weUouu:  lease  for  the 
summer,  again  chantcil  forth  their  simple  lay  of  affection,  an<l 
cheered  my  aged  friend  with  the  certain  news  of  spring ;  when 
unexpectedly  a  party  of  idle  boys,  one  fital  Saturday,  de- 
stroyetl  with  the  gun  the  parents  of  ihis  old  and  peaceful 
settlement  ;  and  from  that  time  forward  no  other  pair  were 
ever  seen  around  this  once  happy,  now  desolate  spot. 

Their  attachment  to  particular  places  is  intleed  remarkable. 
About  the  middle  of  April,  1831,  at  the  Fresh  Pond  Hotel,  in 
this  vicinity,  three  different  nests  were  begun  in  the  ]>ublic 
boat-house,  which  may  be  here  consid  —"^d  almost  as  a  thorough- 
fare. Only  one  nest,  however,  was  completed  ;  and  we  could 
not  help  admiring  the  courage  and  devotedness  with  which 
the  parents  fed  their  young,  and  took  their  alternate  station 
by  the  side  of  the  nest,  unda  mted  in  our  presence,  only  now 
and  then  uttering  a  'A////  when  observed  too  narrowly.  Some 
ruffian  at  length  tore  down  the  nest  and  carried  off  the  brood  ; 
but  our  Pewit  immediately  comniem  ed  a  new  fabric,  lai<l  5 
additional  eggs  in  the  same  i)lace  with  the  first,  and,  in  haste 
to  finish  her  habitation,  lineil  it  with  the  silvery  shreds  of  a 
Manilla  rope  which  she  discovered  in  the  contiguous  loft 
over  the  boat-house.  For  several  previous  seasons  the  parents 
had  taken  up  their  abode  in  this  vicinity,  and  seemed  unwil- 
ling to  remove  from  the  neighborhoorl  they  had  once  (  hosen, 
in  spite  of  the  most  untoward  circumstances.     In  two  other 

VOL.   I.  —  27 


4i8 


FLYCATCHERS. 


I 

'I" 


ill: 


H 


instances  I  have  known  a  pair,  when  the  nest  and  eggs  were 
taken  by  some  nitvhievous  boys,  commence  a  new  nest  in 
the  same  place,  ami  bying  a  smaller  number  of  eggs,  ruisetl 
a  second  broo<l.  In  one  of  those  nests,  under  a  bridge,  the 
insidious  Cowbird  had  also  dro]-)ped  her  i)arasitic  egg. 

Towards  the  time  of  their  departure  for  the  South,  which  is 
about  the  middle  of  October,  they  are  silent,  and  previously 
utter  their  n(jte^  more  rscldom,  as  if  mourning  the  decay  of 
Nature,  and  anticipating  the  approaching  famine  which  now 
urges  their  migration.  In  the  Middle  States  they  raise  two 
broods  in  the  season  :  but  in  Massachusetts  the  I'ewit  rarely 
raises  more  than  a  single  brood,  unless,  as  in  the  instance  re- 
lated, thev  have  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  the  first  hatch. 
The  young,  dis{>erscd  through  the  woods  in  small  numbers, 
may  now  and  then  be  heard  to  the  close  of  Sept^iiber  exer- 
cising their  feeble  voices  in  a  guttural/////^/.  Ikit  the  old  birds 
are  almost  wholly  -rilent,  or  but  little  heard,  as  they  flit  timidly 
through  the  woo<l:^.  when  once  releasetl  from  the  cares  of  rear- 
ing their  inflint  broo«fl :  so  that  here  the  Phoebe's  note  is  almost 
a  concomitant  of  spring  and  the  mildest  opening  of  summer,  — 
it  is,  indeed,  much  more  vigorous  in  April  and  May  than  at 
any  succeeding  period- 

The  Phfebe  is  an  uncommon  bird  in  the  Maritime  Provinces, 
but  more  common  m  the  vicinity  of  Montreal  and  westward  to 
Western  Ontario,  and  in  all  the  Eastern  States.  It  breeds  from 
Manitoba  and  Newfoundiand  to  South  Carolina,  and  winters  in  the 
(iulf  States  as  well  as  in  Cuba  and  Mexico. 


i 


Note.  --  .Mr.  G.  S.  Miller,  Jr.,  captured  on  Cape  Cod,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1SS9,  an  example  of  Say's  Pho:be  (Sayomis  sava),  the 
tirst  that  has  been  taken  to  the  eastward  of  the  Great  Plains. 


n 


Wnou    I'KWKE. 


419 


and  eggs  were 
3  new  nest  in 
of  eggs,  raised 
r  a  bridge,  the 

c  egg. 

South,  which  is 

and  previously 
^  the  decay  of 
ine  which  now 

they  raise  two 
:he  I'ewit  rarely 
:he  instance  re- 

the  first  hatch. 

small  numbers, 
Septnnber  exer- 
:',ut  the  old  birds 
i  they  flit  timidly 
;he  cares  of  rear- 
e's  note  is  almost 
ig  of  summer,  — 
nd  May  than  at 


iritime  Provinces, 

and  westward  to 

It  breeds  from 

uul  winters  in  the 


:ape  Cod,  in  Sep- 
^yornis  saya),  the 
;reat  Plains. 


WOOD   pi:\\i:k. 

CONIOPLS   VIklNS. 

Char.  Upper  parts  olive  brown,  darker  on  tlic  head;  lower  jiarts 
whitish,  with  dull  yellow  tinge;  side.i  pale  olive,  extending  across  the 
breast;  tail  and  wings  dusky;  wings  with  bars  of  uiutish.  Head  with 
inconspicuous  crest.     Length  6  to  6ji  inches. 

Nest.  On  branch  of  a  tree  ;  of  twigs  and  grass,  covered  exteriorly 
with  lichens  and  lined  with  moss. 

>?;";'■•''•  3~4 ;  creamy  white  with  spots  of  brown  and  lilac  wreathed 
about  the  larger  end;  0.75  X  o-55- 

This  species  has  much  the  appearance  of  the  common  Pewit 
Flycatcher,  but  differs  essentially  by  its  note  and  habits.  The 
Wood  Pewee  appears  generally  to  winter  south  of  the  Ignited 
States,  and  scarcely  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  or  New  England 
before  the  middle  of  May  ;  its  mif  itions,  in  all  probability, 
extend  to  Canada.  According  to  .Audubon,  many  of  tliem 
winter  in  the  southern  extremity  of  the  United  States,  and  Mr. 
Townsend  and  myself  frequently  saw  them  in  the  dark  forests 
of  the  Oregon.  It  is  a  solitary  species,  frequenting  gloomy 
forests  and  dark  orchards,  where,  watching  on  some  dead  and 
projecting  branch  for  its  insect  prey,  it  sweeps  at  intervals 
amidst  the  shade,  and  the  occasional  sna])ping  of  its  bill  an- 
notmces  the  success  of  its  flight.  It  then  again  alights  as 
before,  sometimes  uttering  a  sort  of  gratulatory  low  twitter, 
accompanied  by  a  <[uivering  of  the  wings  and  tail ;  and  in  the 
lapse  of  its  employment,  in  a  feeble,  sighing  tone,  often  cries 
pce-7vee  or  pce-e,  and  sometimes  fe-ivcc  pc^inttifcc  or  pmnftcc 
p'e-wee.  This  note  is  continued  often  till  (juite  late  in  the 
evening,  at  which  time  many  of  the  insect  brood  and  moths 
are  abundant.  Most  of  these  birds,  indeed,  ai)j)ear  capable  of 
collecting  their  food  by  the  feeblest  light,  the  only  season  when 
some  of  their  favorite  prey  ever  stir  abroad.  This  species  also 
appears  particidarly  fond  of  small  wild  bees.  From  June  to 
September,  its  solitary  notes  are  heard  in  the  field  and  forest ; 
after  which  time,  preparing  for  its  departure,  and  intently  glean- 
ing food  in  every  situation,  it  sometimes  ap])roaches  the  city. 


420 


FLVCATCIIKRS. 


If 


?  I 


(I 


i   > 

i      , 

1 

I 

Nf: 

> 

1 

1 

■ 

i  I   ' 


often  examines  the  court^.  and  ifarden^,  at  the  same  time  iVed- 
ing  and  training  its  young  to  the  habits  of  their  subsistem  e, 
and  about  the  firot  week  in  October  it  retires  south  tu  pass  the 
winter. 

Tiie  Pewee  is  a  very  expert  and  cautious  flycatcher;  and  as 
if  aware  of  the  drowsiness  of  insects  in  the  absence  of  the  sun's 
broad  hght,  he  is  on  the  alert  at  day-dawn  after  his  prey.  At 
diis  early  period,  and  often  in  the  dusk  of  evening,  for  the  most 
jxirt  of  summer  till  the  middle  of  August,  he  serenades  the 
neighborhood  of  his  mansion  from  3  to  4  or  5  o'ch^ck  in  the 
morning,  with  an  almost  uninterrupted  chanting  ditty,  swecl, 
l)ut  monctonous,  like  //-(/r  />a\-7L'h',  pi'-ay  pax-ulr,  then  in  a 
little  higher  and  less  sing-song  tone,  his  usual  and  more  serious 
pce-d-wec.  In  dark  and  damp  mornings  this  curious  warble  is 
sometimes  continued  nearly  to  8  o'clock  ;  and  the  effect  of 
this  tender,  lulling  lay  in  the  gray  dawn,  before  the  awakening 
of  other  birds,  and  their  mingling  chorus,  is  singular  and  pecu- 
liarly pleasing.  It  is  a  gratulatory  feeling  of  unmixed  and 
placid  delight,  concomitant  with  the  mild  reviving  light  of  the 
opening  day  and  the  perfect  joy  of  the  mated  male,  satisfied  in 
every  reasona])le  desire,  —  in  short,  a  hymn  of  j^raise  to  the 
benevolent  /\uthor  and  Supporter  of  existence  I 

Towartls  the  period  of  departure  they  become  wholly  silent ; 
and  driven  to  extremity,  they  may  n(jw  be  seen  watching  the 
stagnant  ])ools  and  ponds.  di])ping  occasionally  into  the  still 
surface  .'fter  their  drowsy  and  languid  prey.  Like  the  King- 
bird, this  species  at  times  displays  a  tyrannical  disposition  ;  and 
I  have  observed  one  to  chase  a  harmless  Sparrow  to  the  ground 
for  safety,  who  merely  by  inadvertence  happened  to  approach 
the  station  he  had  temporarily  chosen  for  collecting  his  insect 
game. 

The  notes  oi  pcfo-K'ay  peto-7C'ay  prr-rcuiy  are  never  uttered 
by  this  species;  but  on  the  12th  of  February,  1830.  in  Ala- 
bama, I  heard,  at  that  season,  a  bird  uttering  this  note,  and 
several  times  afterwards  I  saw  a  rather  large  and  dark  1-ly- 
catcher  in  the  pine  woods,  to  which  I  attributed  this  call,  and 
which  must  be  a  distinct  species,  as  its  notes  bear  no  resem- 


m 


vt,( 


.me  time  fco<l- 
ir  subbistcm  c, 
.ith  io  pass  the 

atcher ;  and  as 
icf  of  the  sun's 
r  his  prey.  At 
ng,  for  the  most 

serenades  the 
5  o'clcjck  in  the 
ng  ditty,  swecl, 
v--ir. .  then  in  a      . 
nil  more  si;rious 
curious  warble  is 
id  the  effect  of 
?  the  awakening 
igular  and  pecu  - 
3f  unmixed  and 
ving  Ught  of  the 
male,  satisfied  in 

of  praise  to  the 

:e: 

lie  wholly  silent ; 

en  watching  the 

Idly  into  the  still 
Like  the  King- 

fl imposition  ;  and 
)W  to  the  ground 
ned  to  approach 
ecting  his  insect 

Ire  never  uttered 
(y.  1830,  in  Ala- 
Ig  this  note,  and 
(e  and  dark  1-ly- 
Ited  this  call,  and 
bear  no  resem- 


•^ 


LEAST   ILVCATCIIKR. 


4-^1 


blance  to  those  of  the  N\  ood  I'ewee,  —  at  this  season  probably 
in  Souih  America. 

'I'he  Pewee,  I  believe,  raises  1  're  but  a  single  brood,  which 
are  not  abroad  before  the  middle  of  July.  I'he  not  i>  ex- 
tremely neat  and  curious,  almost  miiversally  saddled  upon  an 
old  moss-grown  and  decayed  limb  in  an  hcjrizontal  position, 
and  is  so  remarkably  shallow,  and  incorporated  upon  the 
branch,  as  to  be  very  easily  overlooked.  The  body  of  the 
fabric  consists  of  wiry  grass  or  root-fiDres.  often  blended  with 
small  branching  lichens,  held  together  with  cobwebs  and  cat- 
erjjillar's  silk,  moistened  with  sali\a  ;  externally  it  is  so  coated 
over  with  bluish  cruj^taceous  lichens  as  to  be  hardly  discernible 
from  the  moss  upon  the  tree.  It  is  lined  with  fuier  root-fibres 
or  slender  grass  stalks.  Some  nests  are.  however,  scarcely 
lined  at  all,  being  so  thin  as  readily  to  admit  the  light  through 
them,  and  are  often  very  lousy,  with  a  species  of  nciints  which 
probably  infests  the  old   birds. 

The  plaintive  and  almost  pathetic  note  of  th'j  Wood  Pewee  is  a 
familiar  sound  amid  the  orchards  of  New  Brunswick,  and  the  bird 
is  of  common  occurrence  through  Quebec,  Ontario,  and  Manitoba, 
it  breeds  south  to  Florida,  and  winters  southward  to  .Mexico  and 
Guatemala. 


Lf:ASi'    FLYCATCHER. 

CHELEC. 

Empidox.ax  minimus. 

Chak.  L'iper  parts  olive:  lower  parts  white,  tinged  with  yellow; 
the  breast  washed  with  olive  gray  ;  wings  with  two  bars  of  grayish  white. 
Length  5  to  5,'^  inches. 

.\V.7.  On  fork  of  a  tree;  of  twigs  and  grass,  lined  with  grass  or 
feathers. 

E,i\^s.     3-5 ;  creamy  white,  usur.lly  unspotted  ;  0.63  X  0.50. 

This  ix  one  of  our  most  common  summer  birds  in  thi»  part 
of  New  England,  arriving  from  the  South  about  the  la>,t  week 
in  April,  and  leaving  \is  to  retire  probably  to  tropical  America 
about  the  beginning  of  September  or  sometimes  a  little  later. 
It  also  extends  its  migrations  to  Labrador  and   the  Oregon 


422 


FLVCATCIIKRS. 


'IVrriton',  and  seems  most  abundant  in  the  N'orthern  and 
liastcrn  States.  Though,  Hke  the  i>rece(hng.  thi-se  are  sohtary, 
retiring  birds,  and  fond  ot'  the  sha<le  of  the  forest,  yet  in  tins 
viciinty  their  nests  are  numerous.  On  their  first  arrival,  pre- 
vious to  pairing,  they  are  engaged  in  constant  <iuarrel>>  about 
their  mates,  and  often  molest  other  birds  whom  they  hapjjen  to 
see  employed  in  pursuit  of  the  same  kind  of  ftjtjd  with  them- 
selves. Like  the  jjreceding  si)ecies,  they  take  their  station  <Jii 
a  low  branch  to  reconnoitre  the  passing  insects  on  which  they 
feed,  and  from  time  to  time  make  a  circular  sweep  for  their 
prey.  When  seated,  they  utter  very  frequently  a  shari),  un- 
l)leasant  squeak,  somewhat  resembling  that  of  the  Kingbinl, 
sounding  like  (jiicah,  and  sometimes  UsICali,  or  tslicah,  tsluali, 
and  fshooi-,  with  a  guttural,  snapi)ing  sound,  succeeded  by  a 
kind  of  cpienilous,  Xaw  twitter  uttered  as  they  tly  from  tree  to 
tree,  and  chiefly  at  the  instant  of  alighting.  At  other  times 
they  have  a  recognizing,  rather  low  call  of  'whit,  ^luhif,  re- 
peated at  ^ihort  inter\als :  again,  in  the  warmest  weather,  I 
have  heard  one  of  these  Pewees  call  something  like  the  whist- 
ling of  ^7c>eef,  'aw/,  'wcef,  'ici//.  Occasionally,  when  fighting 
or  in  flying,  it  also  makes  an  echoing  tshirr.  It  possesses  all 
the  habits  of  the  Kingbird,  catches  bees,  flies,  and  moths,  ex- 
hibits a  variety  of  quivering  motions,  and  defends  its  nest  with 
great  courage  against  the  approach  of  larger  birds. 

'The  nest  of  the  Small  Pewee  is  usually  fixed  in  the  slender, 
upright  forks  of  a  young  forest  tree  from  6  to  20  or  30  teet 
from  the  ground.  I  have  also  found  the  nests  on  the  horizon- 
tal branch  of  an  apple-tree  or  forest  tree.  In  most  instances 
in  the  woods  a  gloomy,  solitary  situation  is  chosen.  The  mate- 
rials of  this  fabric  var}'  according  to  circumstances  ;  for  the 
first  brood  a  verv-  soft  and  warm  nest  is  usually  made  of  dry 
grass,  willow,  and  cud-weed  <lown  in  large  quantities,  partly 
felted  or  matted  together  externally  with  the  saliva  of  the 
bird.  Common  tow,  if  convenient,  is  also  occasionally  em- 
ployed when  the  nest  is  in  an  apple-tree,  for  which  some  neigh- 
boring graft  is  probably  unravelled.  The  interior  is  usually 
formed  of  slender,  narrow  strips  of  bark,  bass,  and  dry  grass ; 


liii  :: 


i.i:.\>T  1  i.vc.vrciiKK. 


423 


NortluTii  and 
se  are  solitary, 
,'st,  yet  in  tins 
St  arrival,  jtre- 
iiuurrcls  about 
hey  hai)i)cii  to 
)od  with  thcnv 
hcir  station  on 

on  which  they 
sweep  for  their 
/  a  sharp,  un- 

the   Kingbird, 

ucceeded  h\  a 
fly  from  tree  to 
At  other  times 
vhit,   'whit,  re- 
lest  weather,    I 
r  hke  the  whist- 
,  when  fighting 
It  possesses  all 
and  moths,  ex- 
Is  its  nest  with 
s. 
in  the  slender, 

0  20  or  30  feet 
111  tlie  horizon- 
most  instances 

;en.  The  mate- 
ances  ;  for  the 
ly  made  of  dry 
lantities,  partly 

1  saliva  of  the 
ccasionally  eni- 
ich  some  neigh- 
srior  is  usually 
and  dry  grass: 


th<'  lining,'  is  commonly  of  fine  root-librf^,  >l'n(lcr  tops  of  bi-nt 
gra^s,  and  at  times  a  few  liair^  and  feathers.  Occasionally  the 
principal  external  material  consists  of  strijjs  or  strings  of  silk- 
wiTcl  liii:  and  tbr  bark  df  ihc  (i-'iunon  \  irgin'>  bowi-r.  The 
not  is  rxtrciiuls  neat  and  uniform,  resembling  a  complete 
hemisphere.  As  neits  may  be  fouml  late  in  jnl\,  it  is 
probable  they  have  a  ^ecoml  brood  in  iht  course  of  the 
>ea^(jn.  'I  hey  an-  extremely  atta{:hed  to  their  offspring,  and 
keep  up  an  incessant,  almost  choking  Ishiiih  t.\lu'ah  when 
any  person  apprcxiches  the  tri-e  where  'hev  have  their 
brood,  'llie  y(jung  and  old  now  ino\e  about  in  (ompanj, 
and  at  this  time  {ki^^X  on  \arious  kinds  of  berries,  Dartic- 
ularly  those  of  the  cornel  ami  whorileberr)'.  At  leiigdi  the 
young  are  ^een  to  select  each  other's  society,  and  rove  about 
withoiu  any  fixed  resort,  previous  to  their  gradual  departure. 
A  pair,  prol  d)ly  of  the  same  brood,  still  lingered  here  in  Se])- 
tember,  and  like  the  little  Parrots  called  .nseparable.  ap])eared 
fondly  to  (  herish  each  other's  company.  It  was  toward  even- 
ing when  I  saw  them,  and  at  first  they  appeared  inclined  to 
roost  in  the  shady  willow-tree  in  whif;h  they  had  alighted.  They 
nestlefl  close  to  each  other  with  looks  and  notes  of  tenderness 
and  affec  tion  :  wherever  one  went,  the  other  instantly  followed, 
and  the  same  branch  contained  the  same  contented  pair. 

Nuttall  followed  Wilson  in  the  mistake  of  supposing  this  species 
and  aadirns  to  be  identical,  and  in  his  account  lias  mingled  the 
biograpliies  of  the  two.  The  latter  is  more  southern  in  its  distri- 
InUion,  the  center  of  its  breeding  area  being  in  the  Middle  States. 
'•  Chebec ''  is  a  common  summer  resident  from  Pennsylvania  to  tlie 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  westward  to  the  prairies.  It  winters 
south  to  Panama. 


I ; 


Ik' 

1; 


ft 


TRA  I  i.i.'s    i-i,\  c\  rc:  n  !:r. 

li.Ml'llJONAX    lUAlLl.ll    Al.N(JkU.M. 

CllAR.  I'ppcr  ])aits  olive  brown,  darker  on  iIk-  licad.  lipliter  on  tlie 
rump;  under  parts  wliitish,  the  sides  tinged  with  i)ale  olive  whicli  ex- 
tends nearly  across  the  breast,  the  belly  tinged  with  yellow  ;  wings  dusky, 
with  yellowish  white  bars.     Length  ^'^  to  G  inches. 

A',s/.  On  an  iijiright  fork  in  a  cliiini)  of  alders  or  low  deciduous  tree, 
I  to  S  feet  from  the  ground;  composed  of  grass  roots  or  hempen  tibre, 
lined  usually  with  fine  grass,  sometimes  with  horse-hair  or  thistle-down. 

■^vs'-f-  3-4  I  creamy  white  or  buff,  boldly  spotted  with  light  and  dark 
brown  chiefly  about  the  larger  end  ;  0.70  X  0.53. 

'I'his  species,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  last,  was  fir.->t  distin- 
guished by  Audubon.  Its  note  resembles  the  syllable  'w/icef, 
'ri'/ur/,  articulated  clearly  while  in  the  act  of  Hying.  It  was 
first  obser\ed  on  the  wooded  skirts  of  the  prairies  along  the 
banks  of  the  Arkansas.  Mr.  Townscnd  and  myself  observed  it 
in  various  places  in  the  skirts  of  the  forests  of  the  Columbia 
and  Wahlamet  during  the  summer,  when  it  was  breeding,  but 
we  could  not  discover  the  nest.  Its  motions  are  thus  de- 
scribed by  Autlubon  :  "  When  leaving  the  top  branches  of  a 
low  tree  this  bird  takes  long  flights,  skimming  in  zig-zag  lines, 
passing  close  over  the  tops  of  the  tall  grasses.  snaj)ping  at  and 
seizing  different  species  of  winged  insects,  and  returning  to  the 
same  trees  to  alight." 

Traill's  Flycatcher  is  chiefly  a  spring  and  autumn  migrant 
through  southern  New  England,  though  a  few  pairs  breed  as  far 


*i« 


ACAIHA.N    I  LVLAlLllKk. 


4-^5 


K, 


cad.  liglitci  on  the 
le  tilivc.  which  cx- 
low ;  wings  dusky, 

u\v  dtcidui'iis  tree, 
i  or  hempen  fibre, 
-  or  thistle-down, 
vith  light  and  dark 

rt-as  fir.^t  distin- 
syllablc  'K'hcet, 
Hying.      It  was 

■airifs  along  the 
>clf  observed  it 
i  the  C'ohimbia 
>  brcciiing,  but 
s  are  thus  de- 
branches  of  a 
in  zig-zag  hnes, 
, napping  at  and 
Ireturning  to  the 


lutumn    migrant 
lairs  breed  as  far 


south  as  I. out;  Island.  It  i.s  a  common  suiuiner  residiiu  of  Maine 
and  (if  the  nortliern  part  of  W'rniont  .ind  \e\v  !Iaini)siiire.  and 
IS  not  un<  ;)ninion  on  the  Herkshire  hills  in  .Mass.uliusells.  It  is 
( (tiniuon  in  New  Hrunswick.  West  of  tliis  re^jion  it  breeds  fartlier 
to  tiie  southward,  being  eonunon  in  tiie  middle  of  Olno  .md  in 
soutlurn  Illinois  and  .Missouri.  .Mr.  .McIIwraith  considers  it  un- 
common in  ( )ntario,  and  .Mr.  Thompson  reports  it  i ommoii  in 
.Manitoba.     It  winters  in  Central   .Xmerit.i. 

There  has  been  considerable  discussion  over  the  biceding  ludiits 
of  this  species,  caused  by  the  difference  m  habits  of  ilie  Western 
birds  from  those  which  breeil  near  the  Atlaiuic.  Here  the  favorite 
site  is  a  clump  of  alders  near  a  running  stre.im.  and  the  nest  is 
placetl  within  a  foot  or  two  of  the  grounil  :  while  in  the  West  a 
small  tree  is  generally  selected,  —  sometimes  an  oak,  —  and  the 
nest  is  placed  as  high  as  ten  feet.  The  nest,  in  the  XVest,  is  not  .so 
compactly  or  neatly  matle,  and  the  materials  are  coarser.  The  note 
of  this  bird  —  for  while  the  Flycatchers  are  not  cla.^s'd  with  the 
Oscincs,  or  Singingdlirds,  they  add  not  a  little  to  our  forest  melo- 
dies—  is  peculiar,  though  strictly  of  the  family  type.  It  sounds 
something  like  lce-\i.<ink  delivered  with  a  rising  intleciion  and  the 
accent  on  tlie  tinal  sound,  which  is  prolonged,  —  (piite  a  different 
note  from  the  abrupt  clwln'c  of  minim  lis.  I  have  never  hearil  the 
song  uttered  on  the  wing:  but  when  the  bird  is  perching,  the  head 
is  to.ssed  back,  and  the  note  is  _//«;/;'  out  with  a  decided  emphasis 
of  manner  as  well  as  of  voice. 


ACADIAN    ITA'CATCTIKR. 

Empidon'.w  viuksckns. 

(TiAR.  Upper  parts  olive,  sligiitly  darker  on  crown;  under  parts 
whitish,  the  sides  tinged  with  i)ale  olive,  which  reaches  almost  across  the 
breast;  belly  tinged  with  pale  yellow;  wings  and  tail  dusky;  wing-bars 
huffy.     Length  5}^  to  6  inches. 

A'cst.  In  a  tree,  suspended  on  fork  of  twigs  at  the  extremity  of  a  low 
limb;  rather  loosely  made  of  moss  or  grasses  and  shreds  of  bark  bound 
with  spider's  webbing. 

/\i,',i,^s.  2-4;  buff  or  creamy  white,  spotted,  chiefly  about  the  larger 
end,  with  reddish  brown;    0.75   X  0.55. 

The  older  writers  had  rather  confused  ideas  regarding  these 
small  Flycatchers,  and  Nuttall  supposed  he  was  writing  of  the 
present  species,  when  the  bird  he  had  in  mind  was  ininiiniK. 


426 


FLYCATCHERS. 


,'  ( 


The  Acadian  Flycatcher  bel()ii<;s  to  the  Middle  States  ratliet 
than  to  New  Eny,land,  and  lias  been  taken  but  once  north  ot  the 
Connecticut  valley.  It  is  abundant  in  CMiio  and  Illinois,  but  has 
not  been  observed  in  Ontario.  Mr.  Thompson  reports  it  as  com- 
mon in  Manitoba.  It  breeds  south  to  Florida,  and  winters  in 
Central  America. 

!  iiave  not  met  with  this  species  in  the  field,  but  those  who  iiave 
bven  so  fortunate  describe  ii  as  a  shy  bird,  seeking  the  low,  moist 
thicket  and  shaded  groves  rather  t'.ian  the  open  pastures.  Dr. 
Coues  thinks  the  nest  "  may  be  compared  to  a  light  hammock 
swung  between  forks."  It  is  shallow  and  saucer-shaped,  and  so 
loosely  made  that  the  eggs  may  be  seen  from  below.  Dr.  Wheaton 
states  that  so  much  loose  grass  is  left  on  the  outside  of  the  nest 
''that  it  looks  like  a  tuft  of  hay  caught  by  the  limb  from  a  load 
driven  under  it." 

Mr.  Chapman  tells  us  that  the  most  common  call  of  this  bird  is 
'•  a  single  s/>ei-  ox  peet  re])eated  at  short  intervals,  and  accompanied 
bv  a  rapid  twitching  of  the  tail.  A  more  peculiar  note  is  a  louder 
pee-e-yuk.  The  bird  seems  to  articulate  this  no.e  with  difficulty, 
with  bill  pointing  upward  nnd  wings  trembling,  like  a  fledgling 
begging  for  food." 


r 

i 

YELIX)W-B1-:  I.LIED    FLYCATCHER. 

E.MI'IIX  )XAX    FI,A\"I\KX'1RIS. 

Chak.  Upi^er  parts  dull  olive,  darker  on  the  crown;  under  parts 
bright  vellow,  shaded  with  olive  on  the  breast;  wing-bars  pale  yellow;  a 
yellow  ling  arouiul  the  eye.     Length  5J/2  to  6  inches. 

Nest.  .Amid  ninss-covered  roots  of  upturned  tree  or  mossy  log;  of 
twigs,  or  vegetable  fibre,  or  moss,  lined  witli  roofs,  or  tine  grass,  or 
moss. 

-^vC-f-  4;  pal«-'  buff,  sparingly  spotted,  mostly  about  larger  end,  with 
reddish  brown  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

This  species  was  discovered  about  1843,  and  for  manv  years-— 
as  late  as  18S0  -  was  considered  a  rare  bird.  Even  now  compar- 
atively few  persons  are  familiar  with  it.  though  it  occurs  throughout 
this  Eastern  Province.  It  is  common  in  New  England,  breeding 
in  the  northern  portion,  and  occurs  on  the  higher  hills  elsewhere. 
I  found  it  abundant  in  New  Brunswick,  and  it  has  been  traced 
northward  to  the  lower  Hudson  Bay  region.  Macoun  reports  it 
'"ommon  at  Lake  Mistissini. 


many  years  — 
\n  now  compar- 
:urs  throughout 

rland,  breeding 
It  ills  elsewhere. 
las  been  traced 

:oun  reports  it 


VKLL(  )\V-1U:LLIEI)    KLVCATCHER. 


427 


States  rather 
norlli  ol  the 
inois.  but  has 
rls  it  as  com- 
\d  winters   in 

lose  who  luive 
the  low,  moist 
pastures.  Dr. 
ight  hammock 
,haped,  and  so 
Dr.  Wheaton 
ide  of  the  nest 
lb  from  a  load 

I  of  tliis  bird  is 
id  accompanied 
note  is  a  louder 
:  with  difficulty, 
[ike   a  Hedgling 


Dr.  Wlieaton  considered  it  a  common  migrant  tliroug'i  Ohio, 
but  (ib.>>Lrvers  in  (Jntario  have  met  with  it  so  seldom  as  to  think 
it  rare,  though  Kidgway  says  the  bird  is  common  in  Illinois,  and 
Tliompson  found  it  in  Manitoba. 

Tin  notes  of  this  species  have  caused  much  iMscussion.  some 
writers  claiming  for* it  an  individuality,  and  others  insisting  that  it 
litters  nothing  different  from  the  notes  of  traillii  or  minimus.  Tlie 
kil-lii  of  Jla-'ivcntris  seems,  to  my  ear.  cjuite  different  from  the 
kc-iuink  of  Traill's,  —  which  is  rather  sibilant,  and  is  delivered 
witli  a  rising  inflection,  —  and  differs  also  from  \\\^  che-bec  of  the 
Least  Flycatcher.  While  the  'atter  delivers  the  last  two  notes 
abruptly  and  makes  more  or  less  pause  after  each  couplet,  the 
Yellow-bellied  wliistles  four  notes,  kil-lic  kil-/ii,  with,  but  a  short 
pause  —  a  mere  /vj/ —  between  each  pair,  and  delivers  the  notes 
witli  a  trifle  less  abruptness.  Dr.  Dwight  thinks  the  song  "  is  more 
suggestive  of  a  sneeze  on  the  bird's  part,  than  of  anv  other  sound 
with  wiiich  it  may  be  compared." 

Otlier  notes  of  tlie  present  species  resemble  pea  and  pe-ive-vcii. 
These  are  heard  when  a  pair  are  in  close  companionship.  Thev 
are  soft,  sweet,  cooing-notes.  delivered  in  a  plaintive  tone  that 
suggests  the  tender  pathos  of  the  Pewee's. 


ER. 


j\vn  ;    under  parts 
[s  pale  yellow  ;  a 

\x  mossy  log ;  of 
>r  fine  grass,  or 

larc;er  end,  with 


Note.  —  The  Fork-tailed  Flyc.-vtcher  {Milvulus  tvran- 
juis),  a  bird  of  Central  and  SouLli  America,  has  occasionallv 
wandered  north,  and  been  taken  in  Mississippi,  Kenturks-,  and 
New  Jersey. 

Also  a  few  examples  of  the  Scissor-t.\iled  Flycatcher 
(^Mikntlus  forficatus').  which  rarely  appears  north  or  east  of 
Texas,  have  been  seen  in  X'irginia,  New  Jersey,  Connecticut. 
(Ontario,  and  Manitoba,  and  one  wandered  to  the  shores  of 
Hudson  Bav. 


BRf  \ 


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CAROLINA    PAR0QUP:T. 

CAROLINA    PARROT.     PARAKEET. 
CONURUS    CAKOLINKNSIS. 

Char.  Head  and  neck  yellow  ;  forehead  and  sides  of  head  orange 
red;  body  and  tail  green,  the  belly  tinged  with  yellow;  wings  green  and 
yellow,  the  edges  tinged  with  orange  red.  In  immature  specimens  the 
yellow  of  head  -i/.id  neck  is  replaced  by  green.     Length  about  13  inches. 

jVt's/.  In  den.se  woods  or  cypress  swamp  ;  placed  on  a  fork  near  the 
end  of  a  branch  or  in  a  hole  in  a  tree.  When  on  a  branch  it  is  made  of 
cypress  twigs  loosely  woven,  and  a  nest  in  a  hole  is  usually  lined  with 
cypress  twigs.   When  abundant  the  birds  generally  build  in  large  colonies. 

^A.S''^-     -~5  (•'')  ;  greenish  white  or  creamy;   1.40  X   i.os- 

Of  more  than  200  species  now  known  to  belong  to  this 
remarkable  and  brilliant  genus,  the  present  is  the  only  one 
found  inhabiting  the  United  States ;  it  is  also  restricted  to  the 
warmer  parts,  rarely  venturing  beyond  the  State  of  Virginia. 
West  of  the  Alleghanies,  however,  circumstances  induce  these 
birds  commonly  to  visit  much  higher  latitudes  ;    so  that,  fob 


CAROLINA    IAR«>»L'ET. 


429 


P 


j*.> 

!=-/ 
fc. 


of  head  orange 
wings  green  and 
Ire  si)eciniens  the 
jbout  13  inches. 

a  fork  near  the 
jich  it  is  made  of 
Isiially  lined  with 
ill  large  colonies. 

|5- 

lielong  to  this 

[the  only  one 

(stricted  to  the 

|e  of  Virghiia. 

induce  these 

so  that,  fol- 


lowing the  great  valley  of  the  Missi-Ssippi,  they  are  seen  to 
fre(iuent  the  banks  of  the  Illinois.  an<i  occasionally  to  ajjproac  h 
the  southern  shores  of  Lake  Michigan.  Straggling  paities 
even  have  sometimes  been  seen  in  the  valley  of  the  Jimiata  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  a  tluck,  to  the  great  surprise  of  the  Dutch 
inhabitants  of  Albany,  are  said  to  have  appeared  in  that  vicin- 
ity. They  ( onstantly  inhabit  and  breed  in  the  S<juthern  States, 
and  are  so  far  hardy  as  to  make  their  appearance,  commonly 
in  the  tlepth  of  winter,  along  the  w<X)<iy  banks  of  the  (Jiiio, 
the  interior  of  Alabama,  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  and 
Missouri  arountl  St.  Louis,  and  other  places,  when  nearly  all 
other  birds  have  migrated  before  the  storms  of  the  season. 

The  Carolina  Parrakeets  in  all  their  movements,  which  are 
uniformly  gregarious,  sh(jw  a  peculiar  predilection  for  the  allu- 
vial, rich,  and  dark  forests  bordering  the  principal  rivers  and 
larger  streams,  in  which  the  towering  cj-press  and  gigantic 
sycamore  spread  their  vast  summits,  or  stretch  their  innumer- 
able arms  over  a  wide  waste  of  moving  or  stagnant  waters. 
From  these,  the  beech,  and  the  hack-berr\",  they  derive  an 
important  supply  of  food.  The  flocks,  moving  in  the  manner 
of  wild  Pigeons,  dart  in  swift  and  air\"  phalanx  through  the 
green  boughs  of  the  forest  ;  screaming  in  a  general  concert,  they 
wheel  in  wide  and  descending  circles  round  the  tall  button- 
wood,  and  all  alight  at  the  same  instant,  their  green  vesture, 
like  the  fairy  mantle,  rendering  them  nearly  invisible  beneath 
the  shady  branches,  where  they  sit  perhaps  arranging  their 
plumage  and  shuffling  side  by  side,  seeming  to  caress  and 
scratch  each  other's  heads  with  all  the  fondness  and  unvarying 
friendship  of  affectionate  Doves.  If  the  gun  thin  their  ranks 
tiiey  hover  over  the  screaming,  wounded,  or  dying,  and  return- 
ing and  flying  aroimd  the  i)la(:e  where  they  miss  th'.dr  compan- 
ions, in  their  sympathy  seem  to  lose  all  idea  of  impending 
danger.  When  more  fortunate  in  their  excursions,  they  next 
proceed  to  gratify  the  calls  of  himger,  and  descend  to  the 
banks  of  the  river  or  the  neighboring  fields  in  (juest  of  the 
inviting  kernels  of  the  cockle-burr,  and  probably  of  the  bitter- 
weed,  which  they  extract  from  their  husks  with  great  dexterity. 


430 


PARROTS. 


I' 

if 


I  ' 


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'     If: 

H 

1 

1 
i 

In  the  depth  of  vinter,  when  other  resources  begin  to  fail, 
they,  in  common  with  the  Yellow  Bird  and  some  other 
Finches,  assemble  among  the  tall  sycamores,  and  hanging 
from  the  extreme  twigs  in  the  most  airy  and  graceful  jjostures, 
scatter  around  them  a  cloud  of  down  from  the  pendant  balls 
in  quest  of  the  seeds,  which  now  afford  them  an  ample  re})ast. 
With  that  peculiar  caprice,  or  perhaps  ai)petite.  which  char- 
acterizes them,  they  are  also  observed  to  frequent  the  saline 
springs  or  /ic/;s  to  gratify  their  uncommon  taste  for  salt.  ( )ut 
of  mere  wantonness  they  often  fre(|uent  the  orchards,  and 
appear  delighted  with  the  fruitless  frolic  of  plucking  apples 
from  the  trees  and  strewing  them  on  the  ground  untasted. 
So  common  is  this  practice  among  them  in  Arkansas  Territory 
that  no  apples  are  ever  suffered  to  ripen.  They  are  also  fond 
of  some  sorts  of  berries,  and  particularly  of  mulberries,  which 
they  eat  piecemeal  in  their  usual  manner  as  they  hold  them  by 
the  foot.  According  to  Audubon,  they  liKcwise  attack  the 
outstanding  stacks  of  grain  in  flocks,  committing  great  waste  ; 
and  on  these  occasions,  as  well  as  the  former,  they  are  so 
bold  or  incautious  as  readily  to  become  the  i)rey  of  the  sports- 
man in  great  numbers.  Peculiarity  of  food  appears  wholly  to 
influence  the  visits  and  residence  of  this  bird,  and  in  plain, 
champaign,  or  mountainous  countries  they  are  wholly  strangers, 
though  common  along  the  banks  of  all  the  intermediate 
watercourses  and  lagoons. 

Of  their  manners  at  the  interesting  period  of  i)ropagation 
and  incubation  we  are  not  yet  satisfactorily  informed.  They 
nest  in  hollow  trees  and  take  little  if  any  pains  to  provide  more 
than  a  simple  hollow  in  which  to  lay  their  eggs,  like  the  W'ood- 
l)eckers.  They  are  at  all  times  particularly  attached  to  the 
large  sycamores,  in  the  hollow  trunks  of  which  they  roost  in 
close  community,  and  enter  at  the  same  aperture  into  which 
they  climb.  They  are  said  to  cling  close  to  the  sides  of  the 
tree,  holding  fast  by  the  claws  and  bill ;  and  into  these  hollows 
they  often  retire  during  the  day,  either  in  very  warm  or  incle- 
ment weather,  to  sleep  or  pass  away  the  time  in  indolent  and 
social   security,  like  the  Rupicolas  of  the  Peruvian  caves,  at 


:l 


CAROLINA   PAKO<,)LET. 


431 


icgin  to  fail, 

sonic  other 
ind  hanging 
;ful  postures, 
)endant  balls 
iniple  repast. 

which  char- 
nt  the  saline 
'or  salt.  Out 
rchards.  and 
icking  apples 
uul  untasted. 
[isas  Territory 

are  also  fond 
berrie>.  which 

hold  them  by 
se  attack  the 
2  ereat  waste  ; 
r,  they  are  so 

of  the  sports- 
lears  wholly  to 

and  in  plain, 

loUy  strangers, 
intermediate 

)f  propagation 
lirmed.     They 
provide  more 
ike  the  Wood- 
tached  to  the 
they  roost  in 
lire  into  which 
If  sides  of  the 
these  hollows 
•arm  or  incle- 
indolent  and 
Lian  caves,  at 


length  only  hastily  aroused  to  forage  at  the  calls  of  hunger, 
Inileed,  from  the  swiftness  and  celerity  of  their  aerial  move- 
ments, darting  through  the  gleaming  sunshine  like  so  many 
sylvan  cherubs  decked  in  green  and  gold,  it  is  obvious  that 
their  actions  ai  well  as  their  manners  are  not  calculated  for 
any  long  endurance  ;  and  shy  and  retiring  from  all  society  but 
that  to  which  they  are  insejjarabl}'  wedded,  they  rove  abroad 
with  incessant  activity  until  their  wants  are  gratified,  when,  hid 
from  sight,  they  again  relapse  into  that  indolence  which  seems 
a  relief  to  their  exertions. 

The  Carolina  Parrot  is  readily  tamed,  and  early  >.hows  an 
attachment  to  those  around  who  bestow  any  attention  on  its 
wants;  it  soon  learns  to  recollect  its  name  and  to  answer  and 
come  when  called  on.  It  does  not,  however,  evince  mu(  h,  if 
any,  capacity  for  mimicking  human  speech  or  sounds  of  any 
kind,  and  as  a  domestic  is  very  peaceable  and  rather  taciturn. 
It  is  extremely  fond  of  nuts  and  almonds,  and  may  be  sup- 
ported on  the  vegetable  food  usually  given  to  other  species. 
One  which  I  saw  at  Tuscaloosa,  a  week  after  being  disabled  in 
the  wing,  seemed  perfectly  reconciled  to  its  dome.itic  conili- 
tion  ;  and  as  the  weather  was  rather  cold,  it  remained  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  in  the  house,  climbing  up  the  sides  of 
the  wire  fender  to  enjoy  the  warmth  of  the  fire.  I  was  in- 
formed that  when  first  caught  it  scaled  the  side  of  the  room 
at  night,  and  roosted  in  a  hanging  posture  by  the  bill  and 
claws ;  but  finding  the  labor  difficult  and  fruitless,  having  no 
companion  near  which  to  nestle,  it  soon  submitted  to  pass  the 
night  on  the  bq,ck  of  a  chair. 

I  fear  that  the  story  of  this  gorgeously  apparalled  bird  is  nearly 
finished.  It  is  not  quite  exterminated  yet,  but  of  the  large  flocks 
that  were  once  to  be  seen  all  over  the  Southern  States,  only  a  mere 
remnant  can  be  found,  and  these  are  hidden  amid  the  dense 
swamps  of  central  Florida  and  along  the  lower  valley  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. The  farmers  and  fruit-growers  were  obliged  to  kill  large 
numbers,  and  later  woman's  vanity  and  man's  greed  have  joined 
hands  to  carry  on  the  slaughter.  From  the  combined  attack  of 
such  foes  the  remnant  has  but  slight  chance  for  escape. 


If 


YELLOW-BILLED    CUCKOO. 

rain  crow. 
Ojco'zu-  america>:us. 

Char.  Upper  mandiWe  asad  tip  of  lower,  black  ;  rest  of  lower  mandi- 
ble and  cutting  edges  of  upjjier,  vtllow.  Ujiper  parts  olive,  witli  a  :  'ight 
metallic  gloss,  tinged  with  as-h  toward  the  bill  ;  wings  tinged  with  rufous  ; 
m'  Idle  feathers  of  tail  like  back,  remainder  black  tipped  with  white  ; 
beneath,  white  or  creamy,     JLejigih  about  u  inches. 

A'c'sL  In  a  thicket  bjr  tht  s-ide  of  a  stream  or  on  the  border  of  a 
swamp  ;  placed  in  a  bsfch  or  Jow  tree.  A  ilat,  frail  affair  made  of  twigs 
loosely  laid,  sometimes  Icme-d  vhh  bark  strips  or  grass. 

A\%'-s.     2-6  (usually  4)  ;  jnzit  dull  ■jreen  or  bluish  green;  1.25  X  0.90. 

The  American  Cacko'»  arrives  in  the  middle  and  colder 
States  of  the  L'nion  afjomit  the  close  oi  April  or  the  first  week 
of  May,  and  [)roceefl-*  to  the  north  as  for  as  Nova  Scotia. 
It  i)robably  winters  in  Miexko.  and  individuals  pass  no  farther 
than  the  fore<<-s  of  I>o''iiii-jiana.  We  also  met  with  it  in  the 
remote  Territory  of  Oregon.  Latham  speaks  of  these  birds 
also  as  inhabitants  of  the  tropical  island  of  Jamaica.  They 
delight  in  the  shady  reCBrenient  of  the  forest,  and  are  equally 
common  in  tall  thick  ■-  nd  orchards,  where,  like  piratical 
prowlers,  they  skulk  and  hjde  among  the  thickest  boughs  ;  and 
although,  unlike  the  KiJio|>ean  Cuckoo,  they  are  faithfully  paired, 
yet  the  pair  are  seldom  seen  in  tlie  same  tree,  but,  shy  and 
watchful,  endeavor  to  elude  everything  like  close  obserwition. 


VKLIJ  >\V-1ULL'IJ   CUCKOO. 


433 


of  lower  mandi- 
ve,  with  a  :  'ight 
ged  witli  rut'ou:, ; 
)cd  with  white  ; 

the  border  of  a 
ir  made  of  twigs 

;   1.25  XO.90. 

le   and  colder 
[the  first  week 
Nova  Scotia. 
lass  no  farther 
•ith  it  in  the 
)f  these  birds 
knaica.     They 
^d  are  equally 
like  piratical 
boughs ;  and 
th fully  paired, 
1  but,  shy  and 
obsers'ation. 


'Ihc  male,  however,  fretjuently  uetrays  iiis  >,nug  retreat  by  his 
monotonous  and  guttural  kow  ko-n.>  ko'ic  k('>7o,  or  koc  koo  koo 
h.oo,  and  ko  kiik,  ho  kuk,  koo  koo  koo  kiik,  koo  ko  koo,  k(>o 
ko  koo.  uttered  rather  low  and  plaintively,  likf  the  call  of  the 
Dove.  At  otlier  times  the  ko7>.>  kow  koro.  and  '//:  '//'  '//■  '/k 
'/.ik,  or  'k/i  'k/i  'kk  'kh  'kali  koio  ko7c  koio  ko7o,  beginning 
>K)\v.  rises,  and  becomes  :/'  (juick  as  almost  to  resemble  the 
grating  of  a  watchman's  rattle,  or  else,  commeiiciiig  with  this 
call,  terminates  in  the  distant  cry  of  koio  koio  koio.  I'rom  this 
note,  supposed  to  be  most  clamorous  at  the  approach  of  ram, 
it  has  received  in  Virginia  and  other  States  the  name  of  Raiti- 
Cnr.o  and  CoK'-Bin/.  At  various  seasons  durmg  the  contin- 
uance of  warm  weather  the  vigil  ko-w  korc  ko7c>  ko^c  of  the 
faithful  male  is  uttered  for  hours  at  intervals  throughout  the 
night.  The  same  notes,  but  delivered  in  a  slower  and  rather 
tender  strain,  are  given  with  great  regularity  likewise  in  the 
day  as  long  as  the  j)eriod  of  incid)ation  continues.  He  often 
steadfastly  watches  any  approach  to  the  nest,  going  to  it  occa- 
sionally to  assure  himself  mat  it  is  tmmolested  ;  and  at  times 
he  may  i)e  observed  darting  even  at  the  dormant  bat,  who 
accidentally  seeks  repose  beneath  the  shadv  leaves  of  some 
contiguous  tree,  so  that  he  is  no  less  vigilant  in  seeking  the 
security  of  his  own  progeny  than  in  piratically  robbing  the 
nests  of  his  neighbors.  'I'here  are  two  or  three  other  species 
in  Jamaica  and  other  parts  of  tropical  America  possessing  a 
note  very  similar  to  that  of  our  bird,  which  also  fre(|uently 
apjiroaches,  when  delivered  in  the  plaintive  mood,  koo  koo  and 
koo  koo  koo.  the  usual  sound  of  the  European  Cuckoo.  There 
is  a  Mexican  species  {^Ciiculus  riiiihundiis)  which  so  simulates 
laughter  as  to  have  excited  the  sujierstition  of  the  natives, 
by  whom  it  is  hated  as  a  messenger  of  evil,  its  accidental 
note  of  risibility  being  construed  into  an  ominous  delight  in 
misfortune. 

The  whole  tribe  of  Cuckoos  are  in  disijrace  for  the  tmnatural 
conduct  of  the  European  and  some  other  foreign  species,  who, 
making  no  nests  nor  engaging  in  conjugal  cares  parasitically 
deposit  their  eggs  one  by  one  in  the  nests  of  other  small  birds, 

VOL.    1.  —  28 


,1 

ffp 

i 

1 

» 

1 

i 

434 


CLCKOUS. 


I 


to  whom  the  care  of  rearing  the  vagrant  foundling  is  uniformly 
consigned. 

liiit  we  may  turn  with  satisf:iction  to  the  conjugal  history  of 
our  own  subject,  which,  early  in  May  or  soon  after  its  arrival, 
may  be  at  times  observed  obstinately  engageel  in  the  (juarrels 
of  selective  attachment.  The  dispute  being  settled,  the  ne^t  is 
commenced,  and  usually  fixed  e^'ther  in  the  horizontal  brant  hes 
of  an  apple-tree  or  in  a  thicket,  a  ihorn-busli,  crab,  cedar,  or 
other  small  tree  in  somt-  retired  part  of  the  woods.  Tiie  fabric 
is  usually  very  slovenly  and  hastily  ])ut  together,  and  possesses 
scarcely  any  concavity  for  the  reception  of  the  young,  who  in 
conse(iuence  often  fall  out  of  their  uncomfortable  ( radle.  The 
nest  is  a  mere  llooring  of  twigs  put  together  in  a  zig-zag  form, 
then  blended  with  green  weeds  or  leaves  and  withered  blos- 
soms of  the  maple,  apple,  or  hickory  catkins.  A  nest  near  the 
Botanic  (larden  had,  besides  twigs,  fragments  of  bass-mat,  and 
was  very  uncomfortably  heated,  and  damjj  with  the  termenta- 
tion  of  the  green  tops  of  a  sjjecies  of  maj)le  introduced  into  it, 
and  the  whole  swarmed  with  thrush-lice  or  milli])edes.  The 
eggs  :.rc  of  a  bluish-green  color,  often  pale,  varying  in  the 
shade  and  without  spots  ;  they  are  somewhat  round  and  rather 
large.  Tf  they  are  handled  before  the  commencement  of  incu- 
bation, the  owner  generally  forsakes  the  nest,  but  is  very  tena- 
cious and  affectionate  towards  her  young,  rnd  sits  so  close  as 
almost  to  allow  of  being  taken  off  by  the  hand.  She  then 
fretjuently  ])recipitates  herself  to  the  ground,  tluttering.  tumb- 
ling, and  feigning  lameness,  in  the  manner  of  many  other  affec- 
tionate and  artful  birds,  to  draw  the  intruder  away  from  the 
])remises  of  her  brood.  At  stich  times  the  mother  also  adds  to 
the  contrivance  by  uttering  most  uncouth  and  almost  alarming 
guttural  sounds,  like  (///(}  <///(}/i  ^i^u>ai/i,  as  if  choking,  as  she  runs 
along  the  ground.  While  the  female  is  thus  dutifully  engaged 
in  sitting  on  her  charge,  the  male  takes  his  station  at  no  great 
distance,  and  gives  alarm  by  his  notes  at  the  approach  of  an> 
intruder  ;  and  when  the  young  are  hatched,  both  unite  in  the 
labor  of  providing  them  with  food,  which,  like  their  own,  con- 
sists chiefly  of  the  hairy  caterpillars,  rejected  by  other  birds. 


VLLLt'\V-l;ll.l.i;i)   (UCKiM.. 


4^b 


is  uniformly 

gal  histury  of 
icr  its  arrival, 
^  the  (luarrcls 
;d,  the  nest  is 
,ntal  brani  hes 
rab.  cellar,  or 
s.      The  fabric 
ami  ])ossesses 
young,  wht.)  in 
■  (■  rattle.     The 
I  /ig-/.ag  form, 
withered  blos- 
^  nest  near  the 
[  bass-mat,  and 
the  fermenta- 
rodnced  into  it, 
illii)edes.     The 
.varying   in  the 
iinul  and  rather 
ement  of  incu- 
it  i-  very  tena- 
sits  so  close  as 
11,1.     She  then 
uttering,  tumb- 
mv  other  affec- 
away  from  the 
er  also  adds  to 
Imost  alarming 
nu.  as  she  runs 
lituUy  engaged 
^ion  at  no  great 
iproach  of  an> 
ith  unite  in  the 
heir  own,  con- 
,y  other  birds, 


that  so  commonly  infest  the  aiiple-trees,  and  live  in  coinma- 
nities  within  a  common  silky  web.      Ihi  y  also  tlcvour  the  large 
yellow  cockchafer,  ('•ir<i/>i\  and  other  kinds  of  insects,  as  will 
a^  various  sorts  of  berries;  but   their  wor>t  i«rt»i»en>ity  is  the 
parasitic  habit  of  sucking  the  eggs  of  other  birds,  thus  spread- 
ing  niin   and  dismay  wherever  they  ai)proa(h.     'Ihey  hatch 
several  broods  in  a  season,  and  1  have  seen  a  ne^t  with  eggs  in 
it  as  late  as  the  2.Sth  of  August  !  —  though  they  usually  take  their 
departure  in  some  jjart  of  the  month  of  September.     Consid- 
ering the  time  they  are  engaged  in  breeding,  they  raise  but  few 
young,   appearing   to   be    improvid    it    nurses  and    bad    nest- 
makers,  so  that  a  considerable  ])art  of  their  ])rogeny  are  cither 
never  hatched,  or  perish  soon  after.      These  birds  are  greatly 
atta<  hed  to  places  where  small  birds  resort,  for  the  sake  of 
su<  king  their  eggs;  and  I  have  found  it  difti«  ult  at  times  to 
eject  them,  as  when  their  nests  are  robbed,  without  much  con- 
tem  they  commence  again  in  the  same  vicinity,  but  adding 
caution  to  their  operations  in   proportion  to  the  persecution 
they  meet  with.     In  this  way,  instead  of  their  exposing  the 
nest  in  some  low  bush,  I  have  with  difti(  uity  met  with  one  at 
least   in  a  tall  larch,  wore   than   fifty   fret    from   the  ground. 
^Vhen  wholly  routed,  the  male  kej^t  n]>  a  mcjurnful  X'/'.-i'  ^vti' 
A'd7i'  for  several  days,  ajipearing  now  sensible  by  experience  of 
his  own  predatory  practices. 

Careless  in  providing  comfort  for  her  ])rogeny,  the  Amer- 
ican Cuckoo,  like  that  of  luirope,  seems  at  times  inclined  to 
throw  the  charge  of  her  offspring  on  other  birds.  Api)roach- 
ing  to  this  habit.  I  have  found  an  egg  of  the  Cuckoo  in  the 
nest  of  a  Catbird;  yet  though  the  habitation  was  usurped,  the 
intruder  prob..bly  intended  to  hat'  •^.  her  own  eggs.  At  another 
time,  on  the  15th  of  June,  1S30,  1  saw  a  Rol)in's  ne^t  with  two 
eggs  in  it  indented,  and  penetrated  by  the  bill  of  a  bird,  and 
the  egg  of  a  Cuckoo  deposited  in  the  same  nest.  Both 
birds  forsook  the  premises,  so  that  the  object  of  this  forcible 
entr}'  was  not  ascertained.  —  though  the  mere  appropriation 
of  the  nest  would  seem  to  ha\e  been  the  intention  of  the 
Cuckoo. 


43^ 


CUCKUOS. 


il     I 


Tliis  Cuckoo  occurs  lhr()ii;;hnut  this  l''auiial  I'rovincc  north  to 
New  iJrunswick.  its  brccdini,'  area  extendi iiij  srxitli  to  Florida. 
Nuttall  has  not  mentioned  one  peculiar  habit  of  this  bird.  —  that  of 
layinc;  ey;i;s  at  such  lony;  intervals  that  youn,<;  in  very  dit'ferer.t  stages 
of  maturity  arc  frequently  fountl  in  tiu.'  same  ne..t,  a  •  -''<o  youni; 
i)irds  and  partially  incubated  ejj.iis.     Tiie  practice  ,4  its  ejiys 

in   the  nests  ot  other  birds  is  seldom  indulged  in.  —  indeed,  the 
known  instances  are  extremely  rare. 


i  I 

I   I 


BL\CK-I]ILLi:i)   CUCKOr). 

R.MN  CROW. 
COCCYZL'S    FRY  rHR(  )1'H  I  HALMUS. 

Chak.  .\h()vu,  olive  brown  with  a  slight  metallic  gloss,  tinged  with 
asli  toward  the  bill;  wings  slightly  tinged  with  rufous;  tail  similar  to 
back,  outer  feathers  slightly  tinged  with  gray,  narrowly  tipped  with  white. 
Benejtli,  white,  tinged  on  the  throat  with  pale  buff,  fiiil  black.  Length 
about  12  inches. 

JVi's/.  On  the  edge  of  a  swanipv  wood,  usually  in  a  retired  situation 
placed  generally  in  a  low  bush;  made  of  twigs,  strii)s  of  bark,  moss,  and 
catkins.  Simil.ir  tu  the  nest  of  the  Yellow-billed,  but  somewhat  firmer 
and  more  artistic. 

A^'S^'f-     2-6  (usually  4) ;  deep  glaucous  green  ;   1,10  X  0.80. 

This  species,  so  nearly  related  to  the  preceding,  is  also 
equally  common  throughout  the  United  States  in  summer,  and 
extends  its  migrations  about  as  far  as  the  line  of  Nova  Scotia 
or  Newfoundland.  This  kind  also  exists  in  the  island  of  St. 
Domingo  and  Ciuiana,  and  the  birds  which  visit  us  probably 
retire  to  pass  the  winter  in  the  nearest  parts  of  tropical 
-America.  They  arrive  in  Massachusetts  later  than  the  Vellow- 
billed  Cuckoo,  and  the  first  brood  are  hatched  here  about  the 
4th  of  June.  In  Cleorgia  they  begin  to  lay  towards  the  close 
of  April.  Their  food,  like  that  of  the  preceding  species,  also 
consists  of  hairy  caterpillars,  beetles,  and  other  insects,  and 
even  minute  shell-fish.  They  also,  like  many  birds  of  other 
orders,  swallow  gravel  to  assist  digestion. 

They  usually  retire  into  the  woods  to  breed,  being  less 
familiar  thaa  the  former,  choosing  an  evergreen  bush  or  sap- 
ling for  the  site  of  the  nest,  which  is  made  of  twigs  pretty  well 


"T^ 


ncc  north  to 

to    Floriihi. 

ird,  —  that  of 

tforor-.t  sta.uos 

■  -'so  younn 

.4  its  ejius 

-  indeed,  the 


loss,  tinged  with 

;  tail  similar   to 

l)ped  with  white. 

black.     Length 

retired  situation 

bark,  moss,  and 

somewhat  firmer 

0.80. 

(ling,    is   also 
svimtiier,  and 

f  Nova  Scotia 

e  island  of  St. 

it  us  probably 
ts  of   tropical 

an  the  Yellow- 
lere  about  the 
ards  the  close 
g  species,  also 
insects,  and 
irds  of  other 

pd,  being   less 

bush  or  sap- 

ligs  pretty  well 


MANCiKONi;   (  LCKU<i. 


437 


put  togctluT,  but  still  little  more  than  a  conc.ue  flooring;,  and 
lined  with  moss  occasionally,  and  withered  ( aikin>  of  the  hick- 
ory. Ihe  female  sits  very  close  on  the  nest,  admitting  a  near 
approach  before  (lying  ;  the  young,  before  aciiuiring  their 
fcatiiers,  are  of  a  imiform  bright  gra\ish  blue;  at  a  little  dis- 
tance from  the  nest  the  male  keeps  up  the  usual  raiiltng  (all 
of  Xv/Ti'  /v'7i'  Xv'a'  Xv7t',  the  uote  iiK  reasmg  in  loudness  and 
(juickness  ;  sometimes  the  (all  seeln^  like  /■//'  kh'  hlf  klC  '  kh 
'kali,  the  notes  growing  louder,  and  running  together  like  those 
of  the  \'ello\v-winged  Wotjdpecker.  This  si)t.(  ics  has  also, 
before  rain,  a  pe(  uliar  call,  in  a  raucous,  guttural  \(>ice,  like 
onaltotoo  or  'iKHurattotoo.  It  is  less  timorous  than  thr  N'ellow- 
billed  kind  ;  and  near  the  nest  with  yoiuig.  I  have  observed 
tlie  parent  composedly  sit  and  plume  itself  tor  a  considerable 
time  withotU  showing  any  alarm  at  my  presence.  It  is  e(|ually 
addicted  to  the  i)ractice  of  sucking  the  eggs  of  other  birds. 
Indeed,  one  that  I  saw  last  sunnner.  kej)!  up  for  hours  a  con- 
stant watch  after  the  eggs  of  a  Robin  sitting  in  an  apple-tree, 
which,  with  her  mate,  kept  up  at  intervals  a  running  fight  witii 
the  Cuckoo  for  two  days  in  succession. 

This  species  is  considered  less  abundant  than  the  Yellow-billed, 
hut  it  has  much  the  same  genera!  distribution ;  it  goes,  howc\  r, 
farther  nortli,  having  been  taken  in  Newfoundland  and  Lalirad  )r. 
and  is  common  in  .Manitoba.  wh(.TL'  the  \'cllow-billt.'d  is  not  found. 
The  Black-billed  is  rather  common  in  New  lirunswick  and  Nova 
Scotia  and  throughout  New  England. 


MANGROVE   CUCKOO. 

COCCVZU.S    MINOR. 

Char.  Above,  olive  ;  head,  ashy ;  below,  hiifi  vith  tawny  tinge,  paler 
towards  the  chi  . ;  middle  tail-feather  olive,  rest  black,  broadly  tipped 
with  white.     Length  \i  inches 

A'cst.     In  a  low  tree  or  bush;  loosely  made  of  twigs. 

^K.K^-     3~4;  pale  green  or  bluish  green  ;  1.25  X  0.90. 

The  Mangrove  Cuckoo  is  especially  a  West  Indian  bird,  but  is 
a  resident  also  of  the   Florida  Keys,  though    not  common  there 
A  few  examples  have  been  met  with  in  Louisiana. 


43« 


NVOODI'KCKERS. 


NoTK.  —  MAVNAl(r)'s  Ci'CKoo  (C'.  minor  mavnanii),  a  smaller 
race,  with  |)alLr  lower  parts,  is  found  In  the  iJahama  islands  and  in 
Soutliern  !•  h)ri(hi. 

Noi  !•:.  —  Nutlall  made  no  mention  in  his  book  of  the  Am  {Croto- 
pluit'ii  itiii),  a  South  American  bird  that  IkuI  been  found  in  Loui- 
siana and  Florida.  It  wa>.  hut  a  strai^nltr  within  the  borders  ,1  the 
Liiitetl  States  it)  his  day,  and  is  still  <  oiisidered  a  rare  bird  here. 
A  few  years  ago  one  was  taken  near  I'hiladelpliia  by  Mr.  John 
K  rider. 


\\i 


w 


i  ).  . 

I, 


1 

i 

^^H^^^ 

i'i,1(ki;k. 

ooli)EN-\vin(;ei)  \v(M)I)Im:cki:r.     imc.eon  \vooDr'i:cKKr<. 

IIK.II-IIULULR. 
(.'ol.AIMKS    AUK.VrUS. 

<n\R.  Male:  alcove,  olive  brown  barrt-d  with  black;  ( rown  and 
side-  of  neck  bluish  j;ray  ;  red  crescent  on  nape;  "moustache"  black; 
rump  white  ;  beneath,  pale  brown  with  pink  and  yellow  tints,  each  feather 
bearing  a  spot  of  black  ;  breast  with  conspicuutis  black  crescent ;  shafts 
and  under  >urface  of  win^s  aiul  tail  golden  yellow.  Female  :  similar,  but 
without  the  black  '•  moustache."     bength  about  12^4  inches. 

.\'.'7.  In  open  woodland,  p.asture,  or  orchard;  a  cavity  excavated  in 
dead  trunk,  and  unlined  save  for  the  fine  chips  made  bv  the  boiiiig. 

/^j:.''-  6-IO  (usually  2  or  7)  ;  snow  white,  with  surface  like  highly 
poIi>hcd  ivory;  i  10  X  0.90. 

This  beatitifid  and  well-known  bird  breeds  and  inhabits 
throuirhoui  North  America,  from  I.al>rador  and  the  remotest 
wooded  regions  of  the  fur  countries  to  F'lorida,  being  partially 
migratory  only  from  Canada  and  the  Northern  States,  i)roceed- 
ing  to  the  South  in  October,  and  returning  North  in  April. 
From  the  great  mnnbers  seen  in  the  Southern  States  in  winter 
it  is  evident  that  the  major  part  migrate  thither  from  the  North 
and  West  to  pass  the  incleinent  season,  which  naturally  de- 
prives them  of  the  means  of  acquiring  their  usual  sustenance. 
At  this  time  also  they  feed  much  on  winter  berries,  such  as 
those  of  the  sumach,  smilax,  and  mistletoe.  In  the  Middle 
States  some  of  these  birds  find  the  means  of  support  through 
the  most  inclement  months  of  the  winter.  In  New  Kngland 
they  reappear  about  the  beginning  of  April,  soon  after  which 


:tav. 


b 


H.ICKKK. 


43'>) 


/),  a  smalU-r 
laiuU  anil  in 


Am  {CnUii- 

luul  ill   I-"Hi- 

)or(lcrs  '  .1  the 

re  bird  here. 

1)V  Mr.  John 


ODI'KCKKR. 


:k  ;  *  rown  and 
stachc  "  black  ; 
us,  each  leather 
;resccnt  ;  >halls 
lie  :  similar,  but 
ics. 

ty  excavated  in 

ie  bo<  ing. 

ace  like   higlily 

and    inhabits 
the  remotest 
jeing  partially 
ites,  proceed- 
|)rlh   in   April. 
Ir.tes  in  winter 
)m  the  North 
[naturally  de- 
ll sustenance. 
jries,  such  as 
(i  the  Middle 
]liort  through 
;e\v  England 
Vl  after  which 


they  «  onnncnre  to  ])air  and  build  ;  for  this  jtnri)osi'  thev  i)ften 
in, ike  choice  of  the  trunk  of  a  decayed  apple  or  lorc>t  tni-,  at 
different  heights  from  the  ground.  When  an  a(  (  idi-ntil  cavity 
i>  not  conveniently  found,  confident  in  the  formidable  means 
provided  them  by  naiure.  with  no  other  aid  than  the  bill,  ihev 
have  been  known  to  make  a  winding  burrow  through  a  solid 
oak  for  15  inches  in  length.  .\t  this  lalxjr,  for  greater  secii- 
rit\  and  |)rivacy,  they  continue  till  lair  in  the  evening,  and 
may  be  heard  dealing  blows  as  loud  .ind  succcs>i\e  as  if  aided 
by  tlu'  tools  of  the  carjjenter.  .My  friend  Mr.  (lambel  ob- 
served the  |)resent  spring  (1.S40)  a  burrow  of  this  kind  in 
Cambridge,  excavated  out  of  the  living  trunk  of  a  sas^^afras 
about  15  feet  from  the  ground,  it  was  about  S  inches  in 
diameter  and  iS  inihes  deep,  dug  with  a  shelving  inclination  ; 
and  was  C(intinued  at  intervals  for  more  than  4  weeks  before 
it  was  completed.  'i"he  eggs,  about  b,  and  pure  white,  are 
deposited  merely  upon  the  fragments  of  wood  which  line  the 
natural  or  artificial  ca\ity  thus  forming  the  nest.  This  cell, 
before  the  young  are  tUdged,  ac(|uires  a  rank  and  flisagrei-able 
smell  ;  and  on  inserting  the  haivl  into  it,  the  brood  unite  in 
pro'lr.cing  a  hissing,  like  so  man\'  hidden  snakes.  They  at 
length  escape  from  this  fetid  den  in  which  they  are  hatched  ; 
and  flimbing  sometimes  into  the  liight-r  branches  of  the  tree, 
are  there  k^\  until  able  to  tly.  At  other  times  the  young  ding 
to  their  i)rotecting  cell  with  great  pertin.acity,  so  that  the 
female  will  often  call  upon  them  for  hours  together  {(/itfii/t 
i/inii/t),  trying  every  art  to  induce  them  to  <iuit  their  cradle, 
punishing  them  by  fasting,  till  at  length  they  are  forced  to 
come  out  and  answer  to  her  incessant  ])laint.  If  not  disturbed, 
thev  will  occasionally  approach  the  flirm-house ;  and  I  have 
known  a  pair,  like  the  Pduebirds,  repair  to  the  same  hole  in  a 
l)oplar-tree  for  several  years  in  succession,  merely  cleaning  out 
the  old  bed  for  the  reception  of  their  eggs  and  young.  They 
incubate  by  turns,  feeding  each  other  while  thus  confined  to 
the  nest,  and  are  both  likewise  c(iually  solicitous  in  feeding 
and  protecting  their  young ;  the  food  on  this  occasion  is  raised 
Dften  from  the  throat,  where  it  has  undergone  a  preparatory 


440 


WOODPECKERS. 


w 


n 


'  1 1 ' ' , 


process  for  digestion.  In  the  month  of  March,  in  Morida  and 
Alabama,  1  observed  them  already  pairing,  on  which  occasion 
many  petulant  ([uarrels  daily  ensued  from  a  host  of  rival  sui- 
tors, accompanied  by  tlieir  ordinary  cackling  and  aiiuealing. 
One  of  their  usual  complaisant  recognitions,  often  delivereil  on 
a  fine  morning  from  the  summit  of  some  lofty  dead  limb,  is 
'7t'//  (7  'ti'/V  'rt'//  'u'//  '?t'//  'tc'//  'a'//  Zl'/y/  and  aw'/  t?  kw//,  widt 
7iH>if  'lOoif  woit,  commencing  loud,  and  slowly  rising  and  (piick- 
ening  till  the  tones  run  together  into  a  noise  alnuj^t  like  that 
of  a  watchman's  rattle.  'I'hey  have  also  a  sort  of  complaining 
call,  from  which  they  have  probably  derived  their  name  of 
/<<■  ///.  pct'  itf :  and  at  times  a  plaintive  ijitcah  ijuiiiii.  Occa- 
sionally they  also  utter  in  a  sciuealing  tone,  when  surprised,  (jr 
engaged  in  amusing  rivalry  with  their  fellows,  iut'-tOi^h  K't'-tcgh 
we-cogh  luc-cogli  or  -coccup  loccup  lucci'ip. 

The  food  of  these  birds  variis  with  the  season.  They  are 
at  all  times  exceedingly  fond  of  wooddice,  ants,  and  their 
larvre  ;  and  as  the  fruits  become  mature,  they  also  add  to  their 
ample  fare  common  cherries,  bird  cherries,  winter  grapes,  gum- 
berries,  the  berries  of  the  red-cedar,  as  well  as  of  the  sumach, 
smilax,  and  other  kinds.  As  the  maize  too  ripens,  the  Flicker 
pays  frequent  visits  to  the  field  ;  and  the  farmer,  readily  for- 
getful of  its  past  ser\'ices,  only  remembers  its  present  faults, 
and  closing  its  career  with  the  gun,  unthinkingly  does  to  him- 
self and  the  public  an  essential  injury  in  saving  a  i^w  unim- 
l^ortant  ears  of  corn.  In  this  ])art  of  New  England  it  is  known 
by  the  name  of  Pigeon  Woodpecker,  from  its  general  bulk  and 
appearance  :  and,  to  the  disgrace  of  our  paltry  fowlers,  it  is 
in  the  autumn  but  too  frequently  seen  exposed  for  sale  in  the 
markets,  though  its  flesh  is  neither  fat  nor  delicate.  It  is 
exceedingly  to  be  regretted  that  ignorance  and  wantonness  in 
these  particulars  should  be  so  productive  of  cruelty,  devas- 
tation, and  injurious  policy  in  regard  to  the  animals  with  whose 
amusing  and  useful  company  Nature  has  so  wonderfully  and 
beneficently  favoreil  us. 


'^H^ 


r 


I  Murida  and 

lich  occasion 

of  rival  sui- 

wd  .-,([ucalinii;. 

delivered  on 

dead  lind).  is 

iig  and  (luick- 
iiost  like  that 
it  complaining 
;heir  name  of 
/iii'ah.  Uc  ca- 
ll surprised,  or 

on.     'They  are 
ints,,  and  iheir 
Iso  add  to  their 
er  grapes,  gum- 
lof  the  sumach, 
ns,  the  Flicker 
icr,  readily  for- 
present  faults, 
,   does  to  him- 
ng  a  few  unim- 
and  it  is  known 
ueral  bulk  and 
;  fowlers,  it  is 
for  sale  in  the 
lelicate.     It  is 
wantonness  in 
cruelty,  devas- 
,als  with  whose 
'onder fully  and 


IVORY-BIT  J, ED    Wr)OnPFCKF.R. 
Campephilus  principalis. 

Char.  Glossy  bl.ick  ;  white  stripe  from  bill  down  sides  of  neck  ;  scap- 
ulars and  secondaries  white  ;  bill  ivory  white.  Male  with  crest  of  scarlet 
and  black  ;  female  with  crest  of  black.     Length  21  inches. 

A'l'st.  In  a  cypress-swamp  or  deep  forest ;  a  cavity  excavated  in  a  live 
tree. 

E}^\i;s.     4-6;  white:   1.40  X  i.oo. 

This  large  and  splendid  bird  is  a  native  of  Brazil,  Mexico, 
and  the  Southern  States,  being  seldom  seen  to  the  north  of 
Virginia,  and  but  rarelv  in  that  State.  He  is  a  constant 
resident  in  the  cotmtries  where  he  is  found,  breeding  in 
llie  rainy  season,  and  the  pair  are  believed  to  be  united 
for  life.  More  vagrant,  retiring,  and  independent  than  the 
rest   of  his    family,    he    is    never    foimd    in  the  precincts   cf 


* 


442 


WOODI'ECKERS. 


11 


ii 


1 

.n 

I 


cultivated  tracts ;  the  scene  of  his  dominion  is  the  lonelv 
forest,  amidst  trees  of  the  greatest  magnitude.  His  reiterated 
trumpeting  note,  somewhat  similar  to  the  high  tones  of  the 
clarinet  {pait pait paif  pait^,  is  heard  soon  after  day.  and  until 
a  late  morning  hour,  echoing  loudly  from  the  recesses  of  the 
dark  cypress- s\vam])s,  where  he  dwells  in  domestic  security 
without  showing  an\'  impertinent  or  necessary  desire  to  ([uit 
his  native  solitiiry  abodes.  L'pon  the  giant  trunk  and  moss- 
grown  arms  of  this  colossus  of  the  forest,  and  amidst  almost 
inaccessible  and  ruinous  piles  of  mouldering  lugs,  the  high, 
rattling  clarion  and  rapid  strokes  of  this  princely  Woodpecker 
are  often  the  only  sounds  which  vibrate  through  and  commu- 
nicate an  air  of  life  to  these  dismal  wilds.  His  stridulous, 
interru])ted  call,  and  loud,  industrious  blows  may  often  be 
heard  for  more  than  half  a  mile,  and  become  audible  at  vari- 
ous distances  as  the  elevated  mechanic  raises  or  depresses  his 
voice,  or  as  he  flags  or  exerts  himself  in  his  laborious  employ- 
ment. His  retiring  habits,  loud  notes,  and  singular  occupa- 
tion, amidst  scenes  so  savnge  yet  majestic,  afford  withal  a 
peculiar  scene  of  solemn  grandeur  on  which  the  mind  dwells 
for  a  moment  with  sublime  contemplation,  convinced  that 
there  is  no  scene  in  Nature  devoid  of  harmonious  consistence. 
Nor  is  the  performance  of  this  industrious  hermit  less  remark- 
able than  the  peals  of  his  sonorous  voice  or  the  loud  choppings 
of  his  powerful  bill.  He  is  soon  surrounded  with  striking 
monuments  of  his  industry;  like  a  real  carpenter  (a  nick-name 
given  him  by  the  Spainards),  he  is  seen  surrounded  with  cart- 
loads of  chips  and  broad  flakes  of  bark  which  rapidly  accumu- 
late round  the  roots  of  the  tall  j)ine  and  cypress  where  he  has 
been  a  few  hours  employed  ;  the  work  of  half  a  dozen  men 
felling  trees  for  a  whole  morning  would  scarcely  exceed  the 
])ile  he  has  produced  in  quest  of  a  single  breakfast  upon  those 
insect  larvK  which  have  already,  perhaps,  succeeded  in  dead- 
ening the  tree  preparatory  to  his  repast.  Many  thousand 
acres  of  pine-trees  in  the  Southern  States  have  been  destroyed 
in  a  single  season  by  the  insidious  attacks  of  insects  which  in 
the  dormant  state    are   not  larger  than  a  grain  of  rice.      It 


\  ; 


C!     , 


IVOKV-HII.I.ED   WUODPECKEk. 


443 


the  lonely 
s  reiterated 
)nes  of  the 
y.  and  until 
;sses  of  the 
tic   security 
sire  to  quit 
and  moss- 
iiidst  almost 
s,  the   high. 
Woodpecker 
and  commu- 
is  stridulous, 
lay   often   be 
lible  at  vari- 
depresses  his 
rious  employ- 
rular  occupa- 
brd   withal   a 
mind  dwells 
nvinced    that 
Is  consistence. 
less  remark- 
|\ul  choppings 
Iwith    striking 
a  nick- name 
ed  with  cart- 
idly  accumu- 
,vhere  he  has 
dozen  men 
exceed  the 
,t  upon  those 
led  in  dcad- 
[iv   thousand 
[en  destroyed 
lets  which  in 
of  rice.     U 


is  in  quest  of  these  enemies  of  the  mo=t  imjwsing  j-art  of  the 
vegetable  creation  that  the  industrious  and  indefatigable  Wood- 
pecker exercises  his  peculiar  labor.  In  the  sound  and  healthy 
tree  he  finds  nothing  which  ser\'cs  him  for  fx>d. 

One  of  these  birds,  which  Wilson  wounded,  sur\-ived  with 
b.im  nearly  three  days,  but  was  so  savage  and  unconquerable  as 
to  refuse  all  sustenance.  When  taken,  he  reiterated  a  loud  and 
piteous  complaint,  almost  exactly  like  the  violent  crying  of  a 
young  child  ;  and  on  being  left  alone  in  a  tavern,  in  the  course 
of  an  hour  he  had  nearly  succeede<l  in  making  his  way  through 
the  side  of  the  wooden  house.  He  also  c*:t  the  author  severely 
in  several  places  while  engaged  in  drawing  his  portrait,  and 
tlisplayed,  as  long  as  he  survived,  the  unconquerable  spirit  of  a 
genuine  son  of  the  forest.  Frum  his  magnanimous  courage 
and  ardent  love  of  liberty,  the  head  and  bill  are  in  high  esteem 
among  the  amulets  of  the  Southern  Indians. 

The  nest  of  this  species  is  usually  made  in  the  living  trunk 
of  the  cypress-tree  at  a  considerable  height,  both  sexes  alter- 
nately engaging  in  the  labor.  The  excavation  i.->  <aid  to  be 
two  or  more  feet  in  depth,  '["he  young  are  fledged  and  abroad 
about  the  middle  of  June.  It  is  usually  known  by  the  name  of 
'•  Large  Log-cock."  This  species  appears  to  live  almost  wholly 
upon  insects,  and  chiefly  those  that  bore  into  the  wood,  which 
never  fail  in  the  country  he  inhabits  ;  nor  is  he  ever  known 
to  taste  of  Indian  corn  or  any  sort  of  grain  or  orchard 
fruits,  though  he  has  a  fondness  for  grape^  and  other  kinds  of 
berries. 

This  species  is  now  restricted  to  the  Guli   States   and  lower 
Mississippi  valley. 


I  ■' 


If! 


m.- 


'< 

:i!.^ 

'  '1 

1          1:        '« 

;. !          !fa. 

' 

I  ^ 


ir 


;i'!i  '!■ 


PILEATED    WOODPECKER. 

log-cock.   black  woodcock. 
Ceofhl(j-:us  fil.eatus. 

Char.  General  color  greenish  black ;  wide  stripe  ot  white  from  the 
bill  down  the  sides  of  the  neck  ;  chin,  throat,  and  part  ot"  wings  white  or 
pale  yellow.  Male  with  scarlet  crown,  crest,  and  cheek  patch.  Female 
with  crest  partly  black  and  no  scarlet  on  cheek.  Length  about  iS 
inches. 

A'esf.  In  a  deep  forest  or  the  seclusion  of  a  swampy  grove  ;  excavated 
i.i  high  trees,  and  lined  only  with  fine  chips. 

/ti^i.'-j,     4-6  ;  snow  white  and  glossy  ;   1.25  X  r.oo. 

This  large  and  common  \\'oodpe(:ker,  considerably  resem- 
bling the  preceding  speci;s,  is  not  unfrequent  in  well-timbered 
forests  from  Mexico  and  Oregon  to  the  remote  regions  of 
Canada,  as  far  as  the  63d  degree  of  north  latitude  ;  and  in  all 
the  intermediate  region  he  resides,  breeds,  and  passes  most  of 
the  year,  retiring  in  a  desultory  manner  only  into  the  Southern 
States  for  a  few  months  in  the  most  inclement  season  from  the 
North  and  West.  In  Pennsylvania,  however,  he  is  seen  n^ 
a  resident  more  or  less  throughout  the  whole  year ;  and  Mr. 


'hi  a      1 


PI  I. LA  ri;  I J    WOODrKClvKR. 


445 


Hutchins  met  with  him  in  the  interit)!  of  Hudson  iKiy,  near 
Albany  River,  in  the  month  of  janiiar).  It  is,  however,  suf- 
ficiently lingular,  and  shows  perhaps  the  wild  timidity  of  this 
northern  chief  of  his  tribe,  that  though  an  inhabitant  towards 
the  :.".vage  and  desolate  sources  of  the  Mississijjpi.  he  is  un- 
known at  this  time  in  all  the  maritime  parts  of  the  j)()])ulous 
and  long-settled  State  of  Massachusetts.  Jn  the  western  i)arts 
of  the  State  of  New  York  he  is  sufficiently  common  in  the 
uncleared  forests,  which  have  been  the  i)erpetual  residence  of 
his  remotest  ancestry.  From  the  tall  trees  which  cast  their 
giant  arms  over  all  the  uncleared  river  lands,  may  often  be 
heard  his  loud,  echoing,  and  incessant  cackle  as  he  flies 
restlessly  from  tree  to  tree,  presaging  the  approach  of  rainy 
weather.  These  notes  resemble  ckcirk  rek  vck  irk  rrk  irk  irk 
uttered  in  a  loud  cadence  which  gradually  rises  and  tails.  The 
marks  of  his  industry  are  also  abundantly  visible  on  the  decay- 
ing trees,  which  he  probes  and  chisels  with  great  flexterity, 
stripping  off  wide  flakes  of  loosened  bark  to  come  at  the  bur- 
rowing in>ects  which  chiefly  compose  his  food.  In  whatever 
engaged,  haste  and  wildness  seem  to  govern  all  his  motions, 
and  by  dodging  and  flying  from  ]^lace  to  place  as  soon  as 
observed,  he  continues  to  escape  every  appearance  of  danger. 
Kven  in  the  event  of  a  fatal  wound  he  still  struggles  with  uncon- 
querable resolution  to  maintain  his  grasp  on  the  tru  ik  to  which 
he  trusts  for  safety  to  the  very  instant  of  <leath.  When  caught 
by  a  disabling  wound,  he  still  holds  his  ground  against  a  tree, 
and  strikes  with  bitterness  the  suspicious  hand  which  attempts 
to  grasp  him,  and.  resolute  for  his  native  liberty,  rarely  submits 
to  live  in  confinement.  Without  much  foundation,  he  is  charged 
at  times  with  tasting  rnaize.  I  have  observed  one  occasionally 
making  a  hearty  repast  on  holly  and  smilax  berries. 

This  species  is  being  driven  back  by  '"civilization."  and  is  r.ow 
found  only  in  the  deeper  forests.  Mr.  William  Ilrewster  reports 
that  a  few  pairs  still  linger  in  the  northern  part  of  Worcester 
Countv.  Mass. 


{• 


if 


ll 


i 


446  WOODPECKERS. 

REI>-HE.\DEr)   WOODPiXKER. 

MHI-WKKPLS    1  K\  JHROCKFHALUS. 

C'liAK.  Back,  tail,  and  prnmarjes  blue  black;  head,  neck,  and  breast 
crimson  ;  belly,  rump,  and  *<e>cundaries  white.     Length  9  to  9^^  inche>. 

yViJ/.  In  woudland,  patstimre.  or  orchard  ;  usually  a  cavity  in  a  decavcd 
tree. 

£i,';!;s.     4-(i;  glusav  whue:  i-oo  X  o.So. 

This  common  and  wcM-known  species  is  met  with  along  the 
coast  from  Nova  Scotia  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  inland  in 
the  region  of  the  R<x.ky  Mountains  and  about  the  sources  of 
the  Mississippi.  In  M  the  intermediate  country,  however 
extensive,  it  probably  rc^ades  and  breeds.  At  the  appnmch 
of  winter,  or  about  the  rojddle  of  October,  these  birds  migrate 
from  the  North  and  VWt^t.  and  conscvquently  a]ii>ear  very 
numerous  in  the  >'''-i'.h'tm  States  at  that  season.  Many  of 
them  also  probably  ;  :--  nto  the  adjoining  provincto  of  Mex- 
ico, and  they  reapp^car  in  Pennsylvania  (according  to  Wilson) 
about  the  first  of  May.  Acconhng  to  Audubon,  they  effect 
their  migration  in  the  night,  flying  high  above  the  trees  in  a 
straggling  file,  at  vvhi<:ini  tome  they  are  heard  to  emit  a  sharj) 
and  peculiar  note,  easily  h<ear<l  from  the  ground,  although  the 
birds  themselves  are  elevated  beyond  the  sight.  lake  the 
Log-cock,  the  present  species  is  but  rarely  seen  in  the  mari- 
time ports  of  Massarhmsfelt!^ :  this  region  is  only  occasionally 
visited  by  solitary  ^tna-jjcr^.  yet  in  the  western  jvarts  of  the 
State  it  is  said  to  be  a-  <r  ornrnon  as  m  the  Middle  States. 

These  birds  live  princcifjially  in  old  forests  of  tall  trees,  but  are 
much  less  shy  than  facM  of  the  genus,  freOjUently  visiting  the 
orchards  in  quest  of  ri|">e  ifiruits,  particularly  cherries  and  juicy 
pears  and  apples,  uith  wrhich  they  likewise  occasionally  feed 
their  young.  They  slIm'j  at  times  eat  acorns,  of  which  they  are 
said  to  lay  up  a  store,  and  *isit  the  maize-fields,  being  partial 
to  the  corn  while  in  its  JMio'  or  milky  state.  In  consequence 
of  these  dependent  kabits  of  subsistence,  the  Red-headed 
Woodpecker  is  a  ver}'  Camiliar  species,  and   even  sometimes 


h:; 


^^.»,'*-S",LJ\-ll 


KLD-IlKADLb    \V«J(Jl)l'l::(  KKR. 


44; 


leclv,  and  lireast 
o  gyz  inches, 
ity  in  a  decayed 


vilh  along  the 
and  inland  in 
he  sources  of 
iirry,    however 
the  ai)i)roach 
birds  migrate 
api^ear   very 
on.      Many   of 
incta  of  Mex- 
ing  to  Wilson ) 
^)n,  they  effect 
the  trees  in  a 
)  emit  a  sharj) 
,  although  the 
ht.     Like  the 
1  in  the  mari- 
V  occasionally 
li  parts  of  the 
le  States. 

trees,  but  are 
Itly  visiting  the 
Irries  and  juicy 
asionally  feed 
Ivhich  they  are 
,  being  partial 
|i  consequence 
Red-headed 
len  sometimes 


not  only  nests  in  the  orchard  which  su])j)lies  him  with  ^u«.te- 
nance.  but  ventures  to  rear  his  brood  within  the  boundaries  of 
the  most  pojjulous  towns.  In  the  latter  end  of  suimner  it^ 
reiterated  tappings  and  cackling  screams  are  freipiently  heard 
from  the  shady  forests  which  border  the  rivulets  in  uwvc 
secluded  and  less  fertile  tracts.  It  is  also  not  unconnnon  lo 
observe  them  on  the  fence-rails  and  posts  near  the  public 
roads,  flitting  before  the  passenger  with  the  familiaritv  o( 
Si^arrows.  In  the  Southern  States,  where  the  mildnes>  of  the 
climate  prevents  the  necessity  of  migration,  this  brilliant  bird 
seems  half  domestic.  'I'he  ancient  live-oak,  his  cradle  and 
resilience,  is  cherished  as  a  domicile  :  he  creeps  around  its 
ponderous  weathered  arms,  views  the  i)assing  scene  with  (  om- 
placence,  turns  every  insect  visit  to  his  advantage,  and  for 
hours  together  placidly  recjnnoitres  the  surrounding  fields.  At 
times  he  leaves  his  lofty  citadel  to  examine  the  rails  o(  the 
fence  or  the  boards  of  the  adjoining  barn  ;  striking  terror  into 
his  lurking  prey  by  the  stridulous  ta])pings  of  his  bill,  he 
hearkens  to  their  almost  inaudible  movements,  and  discovering 
their  retreat,  dislodges  them  from  their  burrows  by  "luu  kly 
and  dexterously  chiselling  out  the  decaying  wood  in  which  they 
are  hid,  and  transfixing  them  with  his  sharp  and  l)arbed 
tongue.  lUit  his  favorite  and  most  ])roductive  resort  is  to  the 
adjoining  fields  of  dead  and  girdled  trees,  amidst  whose 
bleaching  trunks  and  crumbling  branches  he  long  continues  to 
find  an  anijile  repast  of  depredating  and  boring  insects.  When 
the  cravings  of  appetite  are  satisfied,  our  busy  hunter  occa- 
sionally gives  wa;  to  a  playful  or  'luarrelsome  dis])osition,  and 
with  shrill  and  lively  vociferations  not  unlike  those  of  the 
neighboring  tree-frog,  he  pursues  in  a  graceful,  curving  flight  h's 
companions  or  rivals  round  the  bare  limbs  of  some  dead  tree 
to  which  they  resort  for  combat  or  frolic. 

About  the  middle  of  May,  in  Pennsylvania,  they  burrow  out 
or  prepare  their  nests  in  the  large  limbs  of  trees,  adding  no 
materials  to  the  cavity  which  they  smooth  out  for  the  j)U' pose. 
As  with  the  Ijluebird,  the  same  tree  continues  to  be  employed 
for  several  years  in  succession,  and  probably  by  the  same  imdi- 


448 


WOUDrtCKERS. 


'I ;, 


k 


h 


';.; 

ey 


vided  pair.  'Vhc  eggs  and  young  of  th's  and  many  other  birds 
occasionally  fall  a  i)rcy  to  the  attacks  of  the  common  black 
snake.  I'he  young  are  easily  tamed  for  a  while,  and  when  left 
at  large  como  for  some  time  regularly  to  be  fed,  uttering  a  cry 
to  call  attention.  I  have  seen  them  feed  on  corn-meal  paste, 
a  large  piece  of  which  the  bird  would  carry  off  to  a  distance 
and  eat  at  leisure. 

This  species  is  common  in  Ontario  and  near  Montreal,  hut  is 
only  an  accidental  visitor  to  other  portions  of  eastern  Canada.  It 
is  usually  a  rare  bird  U)  the  eastward  of  the  Hudson  River,  though 
it  is  said  to  Ijc  rather  common  in  Western  Vermont,  and  in  the 
fall  of  iSSi  it  was  (|uite  common  in  other  parts  of  New  England. 

The  habit  of  this  bird  —  in  common  with  others  of  the  family  — 
to  store  nuts  and  grain  for  winter  use,  briefly  alluded  to  by  Nuttall, 
has  been  confirmed  frequently  by  recent  observers  An  interesting 
paper  on  this  subject  by  O.  P.  Hav  appeared  in  the  "  Auk  "  for 
July.  1.S.S7. 


W 


RED-BELLIKI)    WOODPECKER. 

jSIf.lankrpes  caroli.vls. 

Char.  Above,  black  and  white  in  narrow  bands;  tail  black  and 
white  ;  bcncatii,  pale  buff;  belly  rosy  red.  Male,  with  crown  and  back 
of  head  scarlet,  which  in  the  female  is  replaced  by  dull  ash. 

jVc'sf.  Usually  in  a  secluded  forest  of  tall  trees;  a  cavity  cut  in  a  dead 
trunk  or  limb. 

£^,^s.     4-6:  white  and  glossy;  i.oo  X  0.7  v 

This  species  inhabits  the  whole  North  American  continent, 
from  the  interior  of  Canada  to  Florida,  and  even  the  island  of 
Jamaica,  in  all  of  which  countries  it  probably  rears  its  young, 
migrating  only  partially  from  the  colder  regions.  This  also, 
like  the  preceding,  is  unknown  in  all  the  eastern  parts  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  probably  New  Hampshire. 

The  Red-bellied  Woodpecker  dwells  in  the  solitude  of  the 
forest ;  amidst  the  tall  and  decayed  trees  only  he  seeks  his  less 
varied  fare,  and  leads  a  life  of  roving  wildness  and  independ- 
ence, congenial  with  his  attachment  to  freedom  and  libertv. 
•Sometimes,  however,  on  the  invasion  of  his  native  haunts  by 


KKI)-BEI,I.Ii:i)    WuuUl'ECKEK. 


449 


the  progress  of  agriculture,  he  may  be  seen  prowling  among 
the  (lead  an<l  girdled  trees  which  now  affonl  him  an  lugmented 
source  of  supjxjrt ;  and,  as  a  chief  of  the  soil,  he  sometimes 
claims  hir>  native  rights  by  collecting  a  small  tithe  from  the 
usurping  field  of  maize.  His  loutl  and  har-ih  call  of  'tshou' 
^tshoic  \'Ji"-i,.>  'tilwiC,  reiterated  like  the  barking  of  a  cur.  may 
often  be  heard,  through  the  course  of  tiie  day,  to  break  the 
silence  of  the  wilderness  in  which  his  congenial  tribe  are 
almost  the  only  residents.  On  a  fine  spring  morning  I  have 
obser\"etl  his  desultory  ascent  up  some  dead  an<l  lofty  jiuie, 
tapping  at  inter\als,  and  dodging  from  side  to  sitle,  as  he  as- 
cended in  a  spiral  line  ;  at  length,  having  gained  the  towering 
summit,  while  basking  in  the  mild  sunbeams,  he  sur\-eys  the 
extensive  landscape,  and  almost  with  tlie  same  reverberating 
sound  as  his  blows,  at  inter\als  he  utters  a  loud  and  solitary 
\ii}' rli  in  a  tone  as  solemn  as  the  tolling  of  the  Camj^anero. 
He  thus  hearkens,  as  it  were,  to  the  shrill  echoes  of  his  own 
voice,  and  for  an  hour  at  a  time  seems  alone  employed  in  con- 
templating, in  cherished  solitude  and  security,  the  beauties  and 
blessings  of  the  rising  day. 

The  nest,  early  in  April,  is  usually  made  in  some  lofty 
branch  :  and  in  this  labor  both  the  sexes  unite  to  dig  out  a  cir- 
cular cavity  for  the  purpose,  sometimes  out  of  the  solid  wood, 
but  more  commonly  int(j  a  hollow  limb.  The  young  appear 
towards  the  close  of  May  or  early  in  June,  climbing  out  upon 
the  higher  branches  of  the  tree,  where  they  are  fed  and  reared 
until  able  to  fly.  though  in  the  mean  time  from  their  exjiosure 
they  often  fall  a  prey  to  prowling  Hawks.  These  birds  usually 
raise  but  one  brood  in  the  season,  and  may  be  considered,  like 
the  rest  of  their  insect-devouring  fraternity,  as  useful  scaven- 
gers for  the  protection  of  the  forest ;  their  attacks,  as  might  be 
reasonably  expected,  being  always  confined  to  decaying  trees, 
which  alone  afford  the  prey  for  which  they  probe. 

This  bird's  breedin<j  area  lies  between  Florida  and  .Mar\land 
and  northward  through  the  interior  to  Southern  Ontario,  where  it 
is  quite  common. 


VOL.  I.  —  29 


Bl 

1). 


iilf  ' 


1 

! 
I 

1 

i 

)! 

■J 

,, 

1 

fe 

YKLLOW-nEI.I.IKI)    SAPSl'CKKR. 
Sphvrapicus  vahius. 

Char.  Above,  black  and  white,  back  tinged  witli  veliow ;  i  rown  and 
chin  scarlet,  bordered  by  black ;  cheeks  black,  bordered  bv  white  or  pale 
veliow;  breast  black  ;  belly  pale  yellow.  In  females  the  scarlet  on  chin 
is  replaced  by  white.     Length  S.'i  inches. 

.\'<'.i7.  In  woodland;  a  cavity  in  a  dead  trunk  of  large  tree  ;  sometimes 
excavated  in  a  live  tree. 

/tV^'j.    4-7 ;  white  ;  '^  S5  x  0.60. 

This  species,  according  to  the  season,  extends  over  the 
whole  .\merican  continent,  from  the  53d  degree  to  the  tropics, 
where  it  is  seen  in  Cayenne.  With  us  it  is  most  common 
in  summer  in  the  Northern  and  Middle  States,  and  as  tar 
north  as  Nova  Scotia.  At  this  season  it  is  seldom  seen  beyond 
the  precincts  of  the  forest,  in  which  it  selects  the  most  solitary 
recesses,  leaving  its  favorite  haunts  only  at  the  apj)roach  of 
winter,  and  seeking,  from  necessity  or  ca])rice,  at  this  roving 
season  the  boundaries  of  the  orchard.  The  habits  of  this  bird 
are  but  little  different  from  those  of  the  Hairy  and  Downy 
Woodpeckers,  with  which  it  is  often  associated  in  their  fora- 
ging excursions.  The  nest,  as  usual,  is  made  in  the  body  of 
some  decayed  orchard  or  forest  tree,  the  circular  entrance  to 


i:r, 


mellow  ;  I  ruwn  autl 
d  h\  white  or  pale 
he  scarlet  on  chin 


llAtiiN'    WOdhrKlKl'.R. 


4>I 


;c  tree  ;  s 


ome  times 


\vhi(  h  is  k'ft  only  just  sufficient  for  the  passage  of  the  parties. 
The  (hi)th  of  the  cavity  is  about  15  inches,  and  the  (  -pis,  .\  or 
upwards,  are  white.  'I'he  jjrincipal  food  of  these  birds  is  insects, 
for  they  sometimes  bore  the  trunks  of  the  orchard  trees. 

The  ••  sapsuckintj "  habit  of  this  spetics,  ckiiicd  by  sonu-  dl  our 
most  eminent  naturahsts.  has  been  estaldi^lud  by  Mr.  frank 
r>olIcs,  who  piiblishi'd  an  interesting  account  ol  liis  observations  in 
"The  Auk"  tor  July,  iSiji. 

For  several  days  .Mr.  IJullcs  almost  < ontinuously  watched  a 
number  of  these  birds  while  they  operateil  on  tries  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  summer  home  at  Cincarua,  N.  H.  The  binls  drilled  holes 
in  maple,  oak,  bin  ii.  and  ash  trees,  and  drank  the  sap  as  it  dripped 
from  these  holes.  When  one  set  of  holes  became  "dry."  others 
were  drilled,  eitjht  to  sixteen  on  each  tree,  tlie  new  holes  bein^ 
made  higher  up  than  the  old.  Some  of  the  birds  spent  about 
nine  tenths  of  the  time  in  drinking  the  sap.  .Mr.  bolks  placed 
un'ler  the  trees  cu])s  made  of  birch  bark  and  tilled  with  m.i])le 
syrup,  which  the  birds  drank  freely.  Later  brandy  was  added, 
with  amusing  consecpiences,  the  mi.xture  tbially  acting  as  an  emetic. 
He  moreover  states  that  the  sap  was  not  used  as  a  trap  for  insects, 
as  some  writers  have  supposed  ;  and  wliile  the  birds  caught  insri  ts 
occasionally,  these  did  not  ap;-.ear  to  t'orm  .1  huge  part  of  their  diet. 
An  examination  of  the  stomachs  of  a  few  birds  revealed  but  little 
insect  remains,  and  that  little  was  composed  chiefly  of  .uUs. 


tends    over   the 
|e  to  the  tropics, 
most  common 
lites,  and  as  tar 
l)m  seen  beyond 
lie  most  solitary 
|ie   apj)roach  of 
|,  at  this  roving 
bits  of  this  bird 
iry  antl  Downy 
ll  in  their  fora- 
in  the  body  of 
liar  entrance  to 


HAIRY  woodpecki:k. 

Drvoiutes  VII.I.OSL'S. 

Char.  Above,  black  and  white,  the  back  with  lono;,  slender,  loose 
hair-like  feathers;  beneath,  white ;  outer  tail-feathers  white.  Male  with 
scarlet  band  at  back  uf  head,  which  in  the  female  is  black.  In  inunaturc 
birds  the  crown  is  more  or  less  tinged  with  red,  or,  sometimes  with 
yellow.     Length  8j4  to  9  inches. 

Xcsf.  In  ojien  woodland,  pasture,  or  orchard  ;  a  cavity  in  a  dead 
trunk,  without  lining. 

£!;,^s.     4-5;  white  and  glossy  ;  1.00x0.70. 

This  common  and  almost  familiar  species  is  a  resident 
in  most  parts  of  America,  from  Hudson   Bay  to  Florida,  fre- 


45-' 


NVUUUI'1::CKEK>. 


<iucntly  approaching  the*  cottage  or  the  skirts  of  the  town  as 
well  as  the  forest.  It  is  likewise  much  attached  to  orchards, 
an  active  borer  of  their  trunks,  and  an  eager  hunter  after  in- 
sec  ts  and  larvaj  in  all  kinds  of  decayed  wood,  even  to  stumps 
and  the  rails  of  the  fences.  In  autinnn  it  also  feeds  on  berries 
and  other  fruits.  In  the  month  of  May,  accompanied  by  his 
mate,  the  male  seeks  out  the  seclusion  of  the  woods,  antl 
taking  possession  of  a  hollow  branch,  or  cutting  out  a  cavity 
anew,  he  forms  his  nest  in  a  deep  and  secure  cavern,  though 
sometimes  a  mere  stake  of  the  fence  answers  the  purpose.  In 
the  Southern  States  these  birds  have  usually  two  broods  in  the 
season,  and  raise  them  both  in  the  same  nest,  which  is  not 
infrequently  at  no  great  distance  from  habitati(jns.  Their  call 
consists  in  a  shrill  and  rattling  whistle,  heard  to  a  consid- 
eral)ie  distance.  They  also  give  (Jut  a  single  (juerulous  note  of 
recognition  while  perambulating  the  trunks  for  food. 

The  hahitat  of  true  rv'/Aw/r  is  now  considered  as  restricted  to 
Nortli  Carolina  and  Eastern  Canada.  At  the  Xortlnvest  it  is  repre- 
sented by  D.  7'illosus  leucoinelas.  a  larger  variety  (length  lo  to  1 1 
inches),  and  at  tiie  .South  by  D.  villosHs  amiubonii.  which  meas- 
ures about  8  inches  In  length. 


IN 


DOWNY    \V()()I)P'r:CKr:R. 
Drvi  )r.A  rr.s  f'uhksci.ns. 

'"'HAR.  Similnr  to  D.  lullosiis,  hut  smaller.  Above,  bl.-ick  and  white. 
the  back  with  lona:.  slender,  loose  hair-like  ("downy")  feathers:  beneath, 
white ;  outer  tail-feathers  barred.  Male  with  scarlet  band  at  back  of 
head,  which  in  the  female  is  black.  In  immature  birds  the  crown  is  more 
or  less  tinged  with  red,  or,  sotnctimcs.  with  yellow.  Lenj^th  (^Yz  to  7 
inches. 

Xt-st.  In  open  woodland,  pasture,  or  orchard  ;  a  cavity  in  a  dead 
trunk,  without  lining. 

£';';'■.>■.     4-6;  white  and  glossy  ;  o.So  X  0.60. 

This  species,  the  smallest  of  .\merican  Woodpeckers,  agrees 
almost  exactly  with  the  P.  villosits  in  its  colors  and  markings. 
It  is  likewise  resident  throughout  the  same  countries.     About 


DOWNY    \V(»ul)l'LCKtK. 


453 


cavitv   in    a 


the  middle  of  May  also,  tin-  pair  btgin  to  look  out  a  suilahlc 
•  It'posit  for  their  eg^s  and  yoiiiiii.  I  he  entrance  is  in  the  form 
of  a  perfect  circle,  and  lel'l  only  ju«.t  large  cnougl;  for  an  indi- 
vidual tt)  pass  in  and  out.  I  loth  sexes  labor  for  about  a  week 
ai  ihis  task  with  indefatigable  diligence,  carrying  on  the  Ixtrrow 
in  some  orchard  tree,  in  two  different  directions,  to  the  depth 
of  1 6  to  20  inches  ilown  ;  and  to  prevent  siispicion  the  <  hips 
are  carried  out  and  strewn  at  a  distance.  The  male  occa- 
sionally feeds  his  mate  while  sitting;  and  about  the  close  of 
June  the  young  are  observetl  abroad,  climbing  up  the  tree  with 
considerable  address.  St)nietinR's  the  crafty  House  Wren  in- 
terferes, and,  (hiving  the  industrious  tenants  fiom  tluir  hole, 
usurps  possession.  These  birds  have  a  shrill  cackle  and  a  reit- 
erated (all,  which  they  frecjuently  utter  while  engaged  in  (|uest 
of  their  prey.  In  the  autunui  they  feed  on  various  kinds  of 
berries  as  well  as  insects.  No  sjjecies  can  exceed  the  present 
in  industry  and  perseverance.  While  tlius  regularly  i)robing 
the  bark  of  the  tree  for  insects,  it  continues  so  much  engaged 
as  to  disregard  the  approaches  of  the  observer,  though  imme- 
diately under  the  tree.  These  perA^rations,  made  by  our  Sap- 
suckers,  —  as  tlu'  present  and  Hairy  species  are  sometimes 
called,  —  are  carried  roimd  the  trunks  and  branches  of  the 
orchard  trees  in  regular  circles,  so  near  to  each  other  that, 
according  to  Wilson,  eight  or  ten  of  them  may  be  covered  by 
a  dollar.  The  ol)ject  of  this  curious  i)iece  of  industrs' is  not 
satisfactorily  ascertained  :  but  whether  it  be  done  to  taste  the 
sap  of  the  tree,  or  to  dislodge  vermin,  it  is  certain  that  the 
plant  escapes  uninjured,  and  thrives  as  well  or  better  than 
those  which  are  unperforated. 

This  diminutive  and  very  industrious  species  is  a  constant 
inhabitant  of  the  fur  countries  up  to  the  5Sth  parallel,  seeking 
its  food  principally  on  the  maple,  elm,  and  ash,  and  north  of 
latitude  54  degrees,  where  the  range  of  these  trees  terminates, 
on  the  aspen  and  birch.  The  circles  of  round  holes  which  it 
makes  with  so  much  regularity  round  the  trunks  of  living  trees 
are  no  doubt  made  for  the  purpose  of  getting  at  the  sweet  sap 
which    they  contain.     In    the    month    of   February,    1830,  1 


454 


WOODPECKERS. 


Ill 


■I' 


1 

n 

obsen-ed  these  borers  busy  ta[)ping  the  small  Uve  trunks  of 
several  wax-myrtles  {A/yrica  cerifera)  ;  and  these  perforations 
were  carried  down  into  the  alburnum,  or  sajj-wood,  but  no 
farther:  no  insects  could  be  expected,  of  course,  in  such  situ- 
ations, and  at  this  season  very  few  could  be  obtained  anywhere. 
On  examining  the  oozing  sap,  1  fountl  it  to  be  exceedingly 
saccharine,  but  in  some  instances  astringent  or  nearly  taste- 
less, 'io  a  bird  like  the  i)resent,  which  relishes  and  devours 
also  berries,  I  make  no  doubt  but  that  this  native  nectar  is 
sought  after  as  agreeable  and  nutritious  food,  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  l>altimore  Bird  collects  the  saccharine  secretion 
of  the  fruit  blossoms ;  and  in  foct  I  have  observed  the  ^^'ood- 
pecker  engaged  in  the  ace  of  sipi)ing  this  sweet  tluid,  which  so 
readily  supplies  it  on  all  occasions  with  a  temporary  substitute 
for  more  substantial  fare.  Sometimes,  however,  on  discovering 
insects  in  a  tree,  it  forgets  its  taste  for  the  sap,  and  in  (juest 
of  its  prey  occasionally  digs  deep  holes  into  the  trees  large 
enough   to  admit   its  whole  body. 

Tlie  Downy  Woodpecker  is  found  throughout  the  eastern  and 
northern  portions  of  Xortli  America,  and  like  its  congener,  the 
Hairy,  is  a  resident,  rather  than  a  migratory  species,  breeding  usu- 
ally wherever  it  is  found.  There  is  no  such  difference  in  the  two 
birds  as  is  represented  by  the  names  ••hairy"  and  ••downy;*'  the 
long  feathers  of  the  back  from  which  the  names  are  derived  are 
exactly  similar.  The  differentiation  lies  in  the  size  of  the  birds 
and  in  some  markings  on  the  tai'-feathers. 


ill 


THE    RED-COCKATTED    WOODPECKER. 

DrVORATES    nORF.AI.IS. 

Char  Above,  l)lack  and  wliitc.  barred  transversely;  crown,  black; 
sides  of  head  with  white  patch,  bordered,  above,  by  red  stripe;  beneath, 
white,  sides  streaked  with  bhick.     Length  "jYz  to  8,14  inches. 

N'cst,     In  nine  woods  ;  an  excavation  in  a  decayed  trunk  or  living  tree. 

Egi^s.     4-t<     white,  with  but  Httle  gloss  ;  0.95  X  070. 

This  species,  remarkable  for  the  red  stripe  on  the  side  of 
its  head,  was  discovered    by  \\'ilson    in    the    pine    woods  of 


■'/t  '  -■  "■^ 


ARCTU     IliKEE-TUED    WOOUI'ECKKR. 


h3D 


live  trunks  of 
;,o  perforations 
-wood,  but  no 
;,  in  such  situ- 
ined  anywhere, 
be  exceedingly 
)r  nearly  tas.te- 
:<,  and  devours 
lative  nectar  is 
,   in    the    same 
larine  secretion 
rved  the  W'ood- 

lluid,  which  so 
)orary  substitute 
,  on  discovering 
ip,  and  in  ([uest 

the  trees  large 

the  eastern  and 
its  congener,  the 
es,  breeding  usu- 
rence  in  the  two 

I  •■  downy  ; '"  the 
are  derived  are 

size  of  the  birds 


CKER. 


lly;  crown,  black; 
\\  stripe  ;  beneath, 
ches. 
lunk  or  living  tree. 

on  the  side  of 
Ipine    woods  ot 


North  Carolina,  whence  it  occurs  to  the  coast  of  the  Mexican 
(iulf,  and  as  far  to  the  north  and  west  as  New  Jersey  and 
'I'ennessee.  It  is  a  very  active  and  noisy  s])ecies,  gliding  witli 
alertness  along  the  trunks  and  branches  of  tree-;,  principally 
those  of  oak  and  i>ine.  At  almost  every  move  it  utters  a  short, 
shrill,  and  clear  note,  audible  at  a  considerable  distance.  In 
the  breeding  season  its  call,  still  more  lively  and  ]>etulant.  is 
reiterated  through  the  pine  forests,  where  it  now  chiefly  dwells. 
These  l)irds  are  frequently  seen  by  jjairs  in  the  <omijany  of 
the  smaller  Woodpeckers  and  Nuthatches  in  the  winter  sea- 
son, an<l  they  now  feed  by  choice  principally  upon  ants  and 
small  coleo])tera. 

In  Florida  tiiey  are  already  mated  in  the  month  of  Januar}-. 
and  prepare  their  burrows  in  the  following  month.  The  nest 
is  fretpiently  in  a  decayed  tnmk  20  to  30  feet  from  the 
ground.  In  the  winter  season,  and  in  cold  and  wet  weather, 
t4iis  bird  is  in  the  habit  of  roosting  in  its  old  nests  or  in  the 
holes  of  decayed  trees,  and  fre(iuently  retreats  to  such  places 
when  wounded  or  pursued. 

The  habitat  of  tliis  species  as  at  present  determined  is  the  South- 
eastern States,  includiiiq:  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee,  and  West- 
ward to  Indian  TL-rritorv. 


ARCTIC    I^HRKE-TOF.D    WODDPECKFR. 

P,LACK-B.\CKED   WOODPECKER. 
PICOIDF.S   ARCTICLS. 

Char.  Only  three  toes.  Above,  black ;  white  stripe  on  side  of  head  : 
outer  tail-feathers  white:  beneath,  white  barred  with  black.  Adult  niale 
with  square  patch  of  yellow  on  the  crown.     LeuLith  t^i  to  10  inches. 

AV>7.     In  a  deep  forest,  an  excavation  in  a  dead  tree. 

E,i,'-gs.     4-6;  white  and  glossy:  0.95  X  0.75. 

This  species  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  northern  regions  from 
Maine  to  the  fur  countries,  dwelling  among  deep  forests  in 
mountainous  regions.  Its  voire  and  habits  are  indeed  pre- 
cisely similar  to  those  of  the  Spotted  Woodpeckers,  to  which  it 


i: 


450 


WOODPECKERS. 


! 

( 

i, 

! 
i  ' 

I, 

^ 

II; 


I! 

i  ! 

'  1 

.  I 

,  t 


\ 


fiV. 


is  closely  allied.  Its  food  consists  of  insects,  their  eggs  and 
larvte,  to  which  it  sometimes  adds,  according  to  the  season, 
seeds  and  berries.  Audubon  had  the  good  tbrtune  to  meet 
with  it  in  the  jiine  forests  of  the  Pokono  Mountains  in  Penn- 
sylvania. It  is,  however,  sufficiently  common  in  the  dreary 
wilds  around  Hudson  Ikiy  and  Severn  River.  It  is  remarkable 
that  a  third  species,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  present  as  to  have 
been  confounded  with  it  merely  as  a  variety,  is  found  to  inhabit 
the  woods  of  (luiana.  In  this  (the  /^(Vav  muiitlatits  ot  Vieillot) 
the  crown,  however,  is  red  instead  of  yellow  ;  the  tarsi  are  als(j 
naked,  and  the  black  of  the  back  undulated  with  white. 

This  species  occurs  somewhat  sparingly  in  winter  in  northern 
New  I'higland  and  southern  Canada,  and  sometimes  wantlurs  in 
numbers  to  .Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  and  New  N'ork  State. 
Occasionally  one  is  met  in  summer  in  northern  Maine  and  New 
Brunswick. 


AMI .RICAX   THREE- rOED    WOODPECKER. 

BANDED-BACKED    WOODPECKER. 
PlC(  )11  )i;S   A.MERICANUS. 

Char.  Only  three  toes.  Above,  black,  thickly  s]5ottcd  witl;  white 
about  the  head  and  neck;  back  barred  with  white;  beneath,  white; 
sides  barred  with  black.  Adult  male  with  yellow  patch  on  the  crown. 
Length  about  9  inches. 

Xcst.     In  a  deep  forest;  an  excavation  in  a  dead  tree. 

Ei^gs.     4-  .'';  cream  white;  0.90  X  0.70. 

According  to  Richardson,  this  bird  exists  as  a  permanent 
resident  in  all  the  spruce-forests  between  Eake  Sujierior  and 
the  .\rctic  Sea,  and  is  the  most  common  \\oodpecker  north 
of  Oreat  Slave  Lake.  It  resembles  P.  villosiis  in  its  habits, 
seeking  its  food,  however,  ])rincipally  on  decaying  trees  of  the 
pine  tribe,  in  which  it  frequently  burrows  holes  large  enough 
to  bury  itself. 

This  is  an  uncommon  winter  visitor  as  far  south  as  northern 
New  England,  though  it  has  been  taken  in  Mass:,  .husetts,  and 
Dr.  Merriam  has  found  a  nest  in  tiie  .Vdirondacks. 


RUBY-THROATED    HUMMINGBIRD. 

TrOCH  ILL'S    COLUBRL-. 

Char.  Above,  metallic  green;  wings  and  tail  brownish  v')iet  or 
bronzy ;  chin  velvety  black  ;  throat  rich  ruby,  refleaini;  variou-  hues 
from  brownish  black  to  bright  crimson  :  belly  whitish.  Female  and  voung 
without  red  on  the  throat,  which  is  dull  gray:  la. -leathers  barred  with 
black   and  tipped  with  white.     Length  3  to  3«4  inches. 

A/esi.  In  an  orchard  or  open  woodland :  placed  on  a  horizontal  branch 
or  in  a  crotch ;  made  of  plant  down  tirmly  felted  and  covered  e.xteriorly 
with  lichens. 

Jtggs.     2-?;  white,  with  rosy  tint  when  fresh:  0.30X0.30. 

This  wonderfully  diminutive  and  brilliant  bird  i>  the  only 
one  of  an  .American  genus  of  more  than  a  hundred  species, 
which  ventures  beyond  the  limit  of  tropical  climates.  Its 
approaches  towards  the  north  are  regulated  by  the  advances  of 
the  season.  Fed  on  the  honeyed  sweets  of  flowers,  it  is  an 
exclusive  attendant  on  the  varied  bountie>  of  Flora.  By  the 
loth  to  the  20th  of  March,  it  is  already  seen  in  the  mild 
forests  of  Louisiana  and  the  warmer  maritime  districts  of 
(ieor'~"  .,  where  the  embowering  and  fragrant  Gtlsemiutn,  the 
twin-ieaved  Bignonia,  with  a  host  of  daily  expanding  flowefs, 
invite  our  little  sylvan  guest  to  the  retreats  it  had  reluctantly 


45  cS 


IIL'MMLNG   JURDS. 


t  • 


* 


ii. 


i  }  ♦ 


forsaken.  I  )esiiltory  in  its  movements,  roving  onl\  through 
the  region  of  blooming  sweets,  its  visits  to  the  Northern  States 
are  delayed  till  the  month  of  Ahi)-.  Still  later,  as  if  deter- 
mined that  no  tlower  shall  "  blush  unseen,  or  waste  its  sweet- 
ness on  the  <lcsert  air,"  our  little  s}li)h,  on  wings  as  rapid  as 
the  winti,  at  onee  launches  without  hesitation  into  the  flowery 
wilderness  of  the  north. 

'I'he  lirst  cares  of  the  little  bus\  pair  are  now  bestowed  on 
their  expected  progeny.  This  instinct  alone  propelled  them 
from  their  hibernal  retreat  within  the  tropics  ;  strangers  amidst 
their  numerous  and  brilliant  tribe,  they  seek  only  a  transient 
asylum  in  the  milder  regions  of  their  race.  With  the  earliest 
dawn  uf  the  northern  sj^ring,  in  pairs,  as  it  were  with  the  celer- 
ity of  thought,  they  dart  at  intervals  through  the  dividing 
space,  till  they  again  arrive  in  the  genial  and  more  happy  re- 
gions of  their  birth.  The  enrai)tured  male  is  now  assiduous 
in  attention  to  his  mate  :  forgetful  of  selfish  wants,  he  feeds 
his  comjjanion  with  nectared  sweets,  and  jealous  of  danger 
and  interruption  to  the  sole  comj^anion  of  his  delights,  he  often 
almost  seeks  a  quarrel  with  the  giant  birds  which  surround  him  : 
he  attacks  even  the  Kingbird,  and  drives  the  gliding  Martin 
to  the  retreat  of  his  box.  The  ])uny  nest  is  now  ]irepared  in 
the  long-accustomed  orchard  or  neighboring  forest.  It  is  con- 
cealed by  an  artful  imitation  of  the  mossy  branch  to  which 
it  is  firmly  attached  and  incorporated.  P>luisli-gray  lichens, 
agglutinated  by  saliva  and  mat<;hed  with  surrounding  objects, 
instinctively  fcjrm  the  deceiving  external  coat  :  portions  of  the 
cunning  architectme.  for  further  security,  are  even  tied  down 
to  the  supporting  station.  Within  are  laid  copious  quantities  of 
the  I'jappus  or  other  down  of  plants  ;  the  inner  layer  of  this 
excpiisite  be*!  is  finished  with  the  shortwood  of  the  budding 
Plata)ius,  the  mullein,  or  the  soft  clothing  of  unfolding  fern- 
stalks.  Incubation,  so  tedious  to  the  volatile  pair,  is  completed 
in  the  short  space  of  ten  days,  and  in  the  warmer  States  a 
second  brood  is  raised.  AVhen  the  nest  is  approached,  the 
parents  dart  around  the  intruder,  within  a  few  inches  of  his 
face  ;  and  the  female,  if  the  young  are  out,  often  resumes  her 


KLBV-rHROAlEI)    IILMMING    lilRD. 


459 


onl>  through 
orthern  States 
,  as  if  deter- 
Lste  its  sweet- 
s  as  rapid  as 
U)  the  flowery 

\,-  bestowed  on 
repelled  them 
-angers  amidst 
nly  a  transient 
;h  the  earhest 
with  the  celer- 
i   the   dividing 
lore  happy  re- 
new assiduous 
•ants,  he  feeds 
:ms  of   danger 
hghts,  he  often 
surround  him  : 
gUding  Martin 
iw  prepared  in 
St.     It  is  con- 
nch  to  which 
-gray    lichens, 
nding  objects, 
portions  of  the 
en  tied  down 
s  (juantities  of 
layer  of  this 
the  budding 
folding  fern- 
is  completed 
Inner  States  a 
)roached,  the 
inches  of  his 
resumes  her 


seat,  though  no  more  than  three  or  four  feet  from  the  obser\-er. 
In  a  single  week  the  you.ng  :ire  on  the  wing,  and  in  th'\>  situa- 
tion still  continue  to  be  fed  with  their  nursing  sweets  by  the 
assiduous  pareni>. 

Creatures  of  such  delicacy  and  uncommon  circumstances, 
the  wondrous  sports  of  Nature,  everything  appears  provided 
for  the  security  of  their  existence  ;  the  brood  are  introduced 
to  life  in  the  warmest  season  of  the  year  :  variation  of  temjiera- 
ture  beyond  a  certain  medium  w<nild  prove  <lestnictive  to 
these  exquisite  forms.  The  ardent  heats  of  America  have 
alone  afforded  them  support  ;  no  region  so  cool  as  the  United 
States  produces  a  set  of  feathered  l)eings  so  delicate  and 
tender:  antl,  consecjuently,  any  sudden  extr- mt:  by  produ- 
cing chill  and  famine,  are  fatal  to  our  '  lur  -'I'l.g  liinls.  In  the 
remarkablv  wet  summer  of  i8^i  verv  fe\  of  the  vounii  were 
raised  in  New  England.  In  other  seasons  they  comparativ^-ly 
swarm,  and  the  numerous  and  almost  gregarious  young  are 
then  seen,  till  the  close  of  September,  eagerly  engaged  in  sip- 
ping the  nectar  from  various  showy  and  tubular  flowers,  partic- 
ularly tliose  of  the  trumjjet  IJignonia  and  wild  ba.sam,  with 
many  other  conspicuous  productions  of  the  fields  and  gardens. 
Sometimes  they  m:iy  also  b^^  seen  collecting  dimunitive  in- 
sects, or  juices  fn^m  the  tender  shoots  of  the  pine-tree.  While 
thus  engaged  in  strife  and  employment,  the  scene  is  i)eculiarly 
amusing.  A]jproaching  a  flower,  and  vibrating  on  tlie  wing 
before  it.  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning  the  long,  cleft,  and 
tubular  tongue  is  exerted  to  ])ump  out  the  sweets,  while  the 
buzzing  or  humming  of  the  wings  reminds  us  of  the  api)roach 
of  some  larger  sphinx  or  droning  bee.  No  other  sound  or 
song  is  uttered,  except  occasionally  a  slender  chirp  while  flit- 
ting from  a  flower,  until  some  rival  bird  too  nearly  apj)roaches 
the  same  plant :  a  quick,  faint,  and  petulant  squeak  is  then 
uttered,  as  the  little  glowing  antagonists  glide  up  in  swift  and 
angr>'  gyrations  into  the  air.  The  action  at  the  same  time  is  so 
sudden,  and  the  flight  so  rapid,  that  the  whole  are  only  traced 
for  an  instant,  like  a  gray  line  in  the  air.  Sometimes,  without 
any  apparent  provocation,  the  little  pugnacious  vixen  will,  for 


460 


HL'3IMlN(i    HIKDS. 


\i 


mere  amusement,  ptiirawie  largt-r  ])ir(l^.  such  as  the  Yellow  Hinl 
and  Sparrows.  To  man  th<"y  show  but  little  either  of  tear  ijr 
aversion,  often  quietly  feeding  on  their  favorite  (lowers  when 
s(j  nearly  approached  ^■*<  to  be  <aught.  They  likewise  fre- 
(|uently  enter  the  ^zreen  houses  and  windows  of  tlwellings 
where  flowers  arc  kept  m  sight.  After  feeding  for  a  time,  the 
individual  settles  on  aomrae  small  and  often  naked  bough  or 
slender  twig,  anil  ,lrc-r^.->  its  leathers  with  great  com])osure, 
particularly  preening  ani  clearing  the  plumes  of  the  wing. 

The  old  and  young;  j^re  ^oon  reconciled  to  confinement.  In 
an  hour  after  the  los-;^  of  Ililx-rty  the  cheerful  little  captive  will 
often  come  and  snck  idoBuled  honey,  or  sugar  and  water,  from 
the  flowers  held  oat  tif>  it ;  and  in  a  few  hours  more  it  becomes 
tame  enough  to  sip  its  favorite  beverage  from  a  -)aui  er,  in  the 
interval  flving  tKickwramd*  and  forwards  in  the  room  for  mere 
exercise,  and  then  renting  on  some  neighboring  elevated  object. 
In  dark  <jr  rainy  weatfier  it  seems  to  pass  the  time  (  hietly 
<l()/,ing  on  the  perch.  It  is  also  soon  so  familiar  as  to  <ome  to 
the  hand  that  feed-  f**  Fo  <;<jld  nights,  or  at  the  a{)proarh  of 
frost,  the  pulsation  .:  .  ..^  little  dweller  in  the  sunbeam  be- 
comes nearly  as  low  1-  in  the  tor])id  state  of  the  ilormouse  ; 
but  on  ai)plying  w-:. .-.:..  the  almost  stagnant  circulation 
re\'ivrs,  and  slowly  inncreases  to  the  usual  state. 

Near  the  .Atlantic  r  •  :  •  i]  creature  nests  reLiulady  as  far  nortli 
as  the  Laurentian  lu[L>  of  Ovix^hnc.  and  lirecds  in  more  or  less 
abundance  southward  m  Florida  and  wt-stwartl  to  the  I'lains.  It 
is  an  abundant  summer  res-idcnt  of  tlic  MariliuK'  Provinces. 

The  fact  that  i^sc•ets^  i«wm  a  staple  diet  of  tliesf  diminutive  birds 
has  been  satisfactorfty  provied,  tliough  formerh-  they  were  sup- 
posed to  feed  entirely  om  honey.  Honev  doubtless  tonus  a  part 
of  their  food,  and  they  al^rf*  drink  freely  of  the  sweet  sap  which  the 
Woodpeckers  draw  frotra  uhie  maple  and  birch. 

Another  mistake  regarding  the  Humming  Hinls,  —  that  they 
never  alight  while  feeding;, —  has  been  rectified  by  several  trust- 
worthy observers.  T'  "  'rds  have  l)een  seen  to  alight  on  the 
leaves  of  the  trump'  '-  -  while  Lcatherinij  lioney,  and  also  to 
rest  on  the  tapped  tr    :  .   they  leisurely  drank  of  the  flowing 

sap. 

The  young  birds  are  fed  Ibnr  regurgitation. 


!it'/ 


Yellow  ninl 
cr  ut"  tear  or 
tlo\VL'r>  when 

likcwi-ic    frc- 

of  tlwellings 
3r  a  time,  the 
ed  bough  or 
,t  comiJObure, 
the  wing, 
hnement.  In 
le  captive  will 
1(1  water.  t"r<.)ni 
)re  it  becomes 

-.aiu  er,  in  the 
room  Tor  mere 
levated  object. 
-  time    rhietly 

as  to  come  to 
lie  approach  of 
:  sunbeam  be- 
:he  dormouse  : 

nt    circulation 


Illy  as  far  north 
h   111  ore   or  loss 
the   I'lahis.     It 
|ov  luces, 
iminutive  birds 
hey    were   sup- 
s  tonus  a  part 
It  sap  which  the 

|s,  —  that    they 

several  trust- 

aligh.t   on  the 

^y,  and  also  to 

of  the  flowing 


UKl.TKl)    KINCiFISHER. 

C'KRVr.K    .\H  \i)\\ 

(iiAR.  Above,  slaty  blue:  head  with  lone;  crest:  beneath,  white. 
Male  with  blue  band  acin>s  bica^!.  I-\niale  and  youn^  with  breast-band 
and  >i(ics  of  belly  pale  chestnut.     I.enyth  I2  to  13  inche>. 

AV'.f/.  An  excavation  in  a  sandbank.  — UMially  by  the  side  of  a  stream; 
lined  with  grass  and  feathers. 

i^V^O".     Ti-S  ;  white  and  glossv  ;   1.35  X'  1.05. 

This  wild  and  grotesque-lo(jking  feathered  angler  is  a  well- 
known  inhabitant  of  the  borders  of  fresh  waters  from  the  re- 
mote fur  countries  in  the  67th  i)arallel  to  the  tropics.  Its 
delight  is  to  dwell  amidst  the  most  sequestered  scenes  of 
uncultivated  nature,  by  the  iiorders  of  rimning  rivulets,  near 
the  roar  of  the  waterflill,  or  .miidst  the  motmtain  streamlets 
which  abound  with  the  small  fish  and  insects  that  constitute 
its  accustomed  fare.  Mill-dams  and  the  shelving  and  friable 
banks  of  watercourses,  suited  for  the  sylvan  retreat  of  its 
brood,  have  also  peculiar  and  necessary  attractions  for  our  re- 
tiring   Kingfisher,     Ky  the  broken,   bushy,  or  rocky  banks  of 


lif 


i  ■ 


402 


KIXGIIMJEUS. 


its  solitary  and  a(|uati(:  rcta-at.  this  bird  may  often  be  seen 
perched  on  some  dead  and  projecting  branch,  scrutini/.ing  the 
waters  for  its  expected  prey.  If  unsuccessful,  it  (|uick!\  ( ourses 
the  meanders  of  the  streams  or  borders  of  ponds  just  above 
their  surface,  and  occasionally  hovers  for  an  instant,  with  rap- 
idly moving  wings,  over  the  sjjot  where  it  percei\'es  the  gliding 
(juarry  :  in  the  next  instant,  descending  with  a  (|uick  sjiiral 
sweejj,  a  fish  is  seized  from  the  timid  fry,  with  which  it  returns 
to  its  post  and  swallows  in  an  instant.  When  startled  from 
the  perch,  on  which  it  spends  many  vacant  hours  digesting  its 
prey,  it  utters  commonly  a  loud,  harsh,  and  grating  cry,  very 
similar  to  the  interrupted  creakings  of  a  wat(hinan's  rattle,  and 
almost,  as  it  were,  the  vocal  counterpart  to  the  watery  tumult 
amidst  which  it  usually  resides. 

Ihe  nest  —  a  work  of  much  labor — is  now  burrowed  in  some 
dry  and  sandy  or  more  tenacious  bank  of  earth,  situated  be- 
yond the  reach  of  inundation.  At  this  task  both  the  parties 
join  with  bill  and  claws,  until  they  have  horizontally  perforated 
the  bank  to  the  depth  of  5  or  6  feet.  With  necessary  precau- 
tion, the  entrance  is  only  left  sufficient  for  the  access  of  a 
single  bird.  The  extremity,  however,  is  rounded  like  an  oven, 
so  as  to  allow  the  individuals  and  their  brood  a  sufficiency  (jf 
room.  I'his  important  labor  is  indeed  prospective,  as  the  same 
hole  is  employed  for  a  nest  and  roost  for  many  succeeding 
years.  Here  the  eggs  are  deposited.  Incubation,  in  which 
both  parents  engage,  continues  for  sixteen  days ;  and  they 
exhibit  great  solicitude  for  the  safety  of  their  brood.  The 
mother,  simulating  lameness,  sometimes  drops  on  the  water, 
fluttering  as  if  wounded,  and  unable  to  rise  from  the  stream. 
The  male  also,  perched  on  the  nearest  bough,  or  edge  of  the 
projecting  bank,  jerks  his  tail,  elevates  his  crest,  and  passing  to 
and  fro  before  the  intruder,  raises  his  angry  and  vehement 
rattle  of  complaint  (Audubon).  .At  the  commencement  of 
winter,  the  frost  obliges  our  humble  Fisher  to  seek  more  open 
streams,  and  even  the  vicinitv  of  the  sea  ;  but  it  is  seen  to 
return  to  Pennsylvania  by  the  commencement  of  April. 


'I 


icsimsr 


l*^v»i£i^ 


C  H  I  M  N  E  \    S  W  I  F  'I\ 

CHIMNEV    SWALLOW. 
CH-tTUR-A    PKLAGICA. 

<'u\R.  General  color  sooty  brown,  paler  on  the  throat  and  brca«t, 
linged  with  green  above.     Length  about  5 '4  inches. 

.X'c-j/.  Usually  in  a  chimney,  sometimes  in  a  hollow  tree  or  a  barn; 
made  of  twigs  cemented  with  saliva. 

£^'::s.     4-5;  white;  0.70  X  0.50. 

This  singuiar  bird,  after  passing  the  winter  in  tropical  Amer- 
ica, arrives  in  the  Middle  and  Northern  States  late  in  April  or 
early  in  May.  Its  migrations  extend  at  least  to  the  sources 
of  the  Mississippi,  where  it  was  observed  by  Mr.  .Say.  More 
social  than  the  foreign  species,  which  frequents  rocks  and  ruins, 
our  Swift  takes  advantage  of  unoccupied  and  lofty  chimneys, 
the  original  roost  and  nesting  situation  being  tall,  gigantic 
hollow  trees  such  as  the  elm  and  buttonwood  { P/a/anus). 
The  nest  is  formed  of  slender  twigs  neatly  interlaced,  some- 
what like  a  basket,  and  connected  sufficiently  together  by  a 
copious  quantity  of  adhesive  gum  or  mucilage  secreted  by  the 
stomach  of  the  curious  architect.  This  rude  cradle  of  the 
young  is  small  and  shallow,  and  attached  at  the  >ides  to 
the  wall  of  some  chimney  or  the  inner  surface  of  a  hollow 


464 


SWIFTS. 


I  i 

I 


111 


1 1 


1^: 


f 


trie  ;  :t  l^>  wholly  destitute  (M  lining.  They  have  commonly 
two  broods  in  the  season.  So  assiduous  are  the  parents  that 
they  teed  the  young  through  the  greater  part  of  the  night  ; 
their  habits,  however,  are  nearly  nocturnal,  as  they  Hy  abroad 
most  at  anil  before  sunrise,  and  in  the  twilight  of  evening. 
The  noi^e  which  they  make  while  passing  up  and  down  the 
chminey  resembles  almost  the  rumbling  of  distant  thunder. 
When  the  ne^ts  get  loosened  by  rains  so  as  to  fall  down,  the 
young,  though  blinil,  fmd  means  to  escape,  by  creeping  uj)  and 
clinging  to  the  sides  of  the  chimney  walls ;  in  this  situation 
they  continue  to  be  fed  for  a  week  or  more.  Soon  tired  of 
their  hard  cradle,  they  generally  leave  it  long  before  they  are 
cajxable  of  flying. 

On  their  first  arrival,  and  for  a  considerable  time  after,  the 
males,  particularly,  associate  to  roost  in  a  general  resort.  This 
situation,  in  the  remote  and  unsettled  parts  of  the  country,  is 
usually  a  large  hollow  tree,  open  at  to]).  These  well-known 
Sii.Hi/Zo'ic  Ores  are  ignorantly  supposed  to  be  the  winter  quar- 
ters of  the  species,  where,  in  heaps,  they  doze  away  the  cold 
season  in  a  state  of  torpidity  ;  but  no  proof  of  the  fact  is  ever 
adduced.  The  length  of  time  such  trees  have  been  resorted 
to  by  particular  flocks  may  be  conceived,  perhaps,  by  the 
account  of  a  hollow  tree  of  this  kind  described  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Harris  in  his  Journal.  The  Platiniiis  alluded  to,  grew  in  the 
upper  jiart  of  Waterford.  in  Ohio,  two  miles  from  the  Muskin- 
gum, and  its  hollow  trunk,  now  fallen,  of  the  diameter  of  5'^ 
feet,  and  for  nearly  15  feet  upwards,  contained  an  entire  mass 
of  decayed  Swallow  feathers,  mixed  with  brownish  dust  and 
the  exuviae  of  insects.  In  inland  towns  these  birds  have  been 
known  to  make  their  general  roost  in  the  chimney  of  the 
court-house.  Before  descending,  they  fly  in  large  flocks,  mak- 
ing many  ample  and  circuitous  sweejis  in  the  air  :  and  as  the 
point  of  the  vortex  f;ills,  individuals  drop  into  the  chimney 
by  degrees,  until  the  whole  have  descended,  which  generally 
takes  place  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening.  They  all,  however, 
disappear  about  the  first  week  in  August.  Like  the  rest  of  the 
tribe,  the  Chimney  Swift  flies  very  quick,  and  with  but  slight 


t  IH«K-\\II.l.  s-\\  li>()\v 


465 


>•  have  commonly 
e  the  parents  thai 
tart  of  the  night  ; 
as  they  tly  abroad 
•ilight  of  evening, 
up  and  down  the 
if  distant  thunder, 
i  to  fall  down,  the 
)y  creeping  up  and 
;  in  this  situation 
re.  Soon  tired  of 
ig  before  they  are 

ible  time  after,  the 
neral  resort.     This 
;s  of  the  country,  is 
These  well-known 
le  the  winter  qnar- 
I07.C  away  the  cold 
of  the  fact  is  ever 
lave  been  resorted 
,  perhaps,   by  the 
[cd  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
d  to,  grew  in  the 
from  the  Muskin- 
diameter  of  5^4 
cd  an  entire  mass 
)rownish  dust  and 
e  birds  have  been 
|e   chimney  of  the 
large  flocks,  mak- 
e  air  :  and  as  the 
into  the  chimney 
Id,  which  generally 
jrhey  all,  however, 
like  the  rest  of  the 
ihI  with  but  slight 


vibrations  of  its  wings,  appearing  as  it  \\\rv  to  swim  in  tin  .lir 
in  widening  circles,  shooting  i)ackwards  and  forwards  through 
the  ambient  space  at  great  elevations,  and  yet  scarcely  moving 
it^  wings.  Now  and  then  it  is  luird  to  uttir,  ui  a  hu'.ied 
manner,  a  sound  like  /s//>  tstp  tsip  tsec  fst<\  It  i>  never  seen  to 
alight  but  in  hollow  trees  or  chinmeys,  and  appears  always 
most  gay  and  ai  ti\e  in  wet  and  gUjomy  weather. 

Near  the  Atlantic  Ixirdur  this  sik'cIcs  is  found  north  ti>  50".  Init 
in  till'  West  it  ranges  still  tartlicr  northward. 


C  H  U  C  K  -  W  I  I.  L  '  S-  \V  T  n  O  W. 
An  rR( )STOMUS  c.akui.in  i  nsis. 

Char.  Gape  extremely  wide,  the  rictal  bristles  with  Litcrai  filaments. 
General  color  reddish  brown  mottled  with  bk;ck,  white,  and  tawny  ;  throat 
with  collar  of  pale  tawny,  terminal  third  of  outer  tail-teathers  white  or 
buffy  ;  nnder  parts  tawny  white.     Length  1 1  to  12  inches. 

.W'st.  Ill  open  woods  or  dense  thicket.  \o  attemjit  is  made  at  build- 
ing a  rcce])tacle  for  the  eggs,  which  are  laid  on  the  bare  groim  1  or  upon 
fallen  leaves. 

■E.CA'^'-  -;  white  or  bufiish,  marked  with  brown  and  lavender;  1.40 
X  1.00. 

The  Carolina  Goatsucker  is  seldom  seen  to  the  north  of 
Virginia,  though  in  the  interior  its  migrations  extend  up  the 
shores  of  the  Mississi])pi  to  the  3Sth  degree.  After  wintering 
in  some  part  of  the  tropical  continent  of  .\merica,  it  arrives  in 
(ieorgia  and  Louisiana  about  the  middle  of  Ma'ch.  and  in  Vir- 
ginia early  in  A])ril.  Like  the  following  species,  it  i:ommences 
its  singular  serenade  of  ^ cJiuck-^wiir s-widmo  in  the  evening 
soon  after  sunset,  and  continues  it  with  short  interruptions  for 
several  hours.  Towards  morning  the  not  is  also  renewed 
until  the  opening  dawn.  \x\  the  day,  like  some  wandering 
spirit,  it  retires  to  secrecy  and  silence,  as  if  the  whole  had  only 
been  a  disturbed  dream.  In  a  still  evening  this  singular  call 
may  be  heard  for  half  a  mile,  its  tones  being  slower,  louder, 
and  more  full  than  those  of  the  ^Vhip-poor-will.  The  species 
is  particularly  numerous  in  the  vast  forests  of  the  Mississippi, 

VOL.   I.  —  -,o 


466 


GOAI'SLCKEkS. 


II 


where  througliout  the  cvcnin;,'  its  echoinj,'  notes  arc  heard  in 
the  sohtury  glens  and  fn^m  the  snrroundin;^  and  silent  hills, 
l)ecotning  almost  incessant  during  the  shining  of  the  moon; 
and  at  the  boding  sound  of  its  elfin  voice,  when  familiar  and 
ritrongly  reiterated,  the  thcjughtful,  >uperstitious  savag«;  becomes 
sad  and  pensive.  Its  (light  is  low,  and  it  skims  only  a  few  feet 
above  the  surface  (^f  the  groun<l,  fre(|uently  settling  on  logs 
and  fences,  whence  it  often  >weei>s  around  in  jjursuit  of  tlying 
moths  and  insects,  which  c(jnstitute  its  fouii.  Sometimes  these 
birds  are  seen  sailing  near  the  grounil,  and  (occasionally  descend 
to  pick  up  a  beetle,  or  tlutter  lightly  around  the  trunk  of  a  tree 
in  (juest  of  some  insect  crawling  upon  the  bark.  In  rainy  and 
gloomy  weather  they  remain  silent  in  the  hollow  log  which 
affonls  them  and  the  bats  a  common  roost  and  refuge  by  day. 
When  discovered  in  this  critical  situation,  and  without  the 
means  of  escape,  they  ruftle  uj)  their  feathers,  spread  open 
their  enormous  mouths,  and  utter  a  murmur  almost  like  the 
hissing  of  a  snake,  thus  endeavoring,  apparently,  to  intimidate 
their  enemy  when  cut  off  from  the  means  (>(  escape. 

This  sjjecies  also  lays  its  eggs,  two  in  number,  merely  on  the 
ground,  anil  usually  in  the  woods;  if  they  be  handled,  or  even 
the  young,  the  joarents,  suspicious  of  danger,  remove  them  to 
some  other  place.  As  early  as  the  middle  of  August,  accord- 
ing to  Audubon,  these  birds  retire  from  the  I'nited  States; 
though  some  winter  in  the  central  parts  of  Kast  Florida. 

The  general  habitat  of  this  species  is  the  South  Atlantic  and 
Gulf  States  and  the  lower  .Mississippi  valley.  Near  the  Atlantic 
the  bird  ranges  to  North  Carolina,  and  Mr.  Kidgeway  reports  it 
not  uncommon  in  southern  Illinois.  It  winters  in  tlie  (iulf  .States 
and  southward. 


WllII'-l'ook-WILL. 


46; 


\viiir-i»ooR-u  1 1.1,. 

An"ik( )sr( ).ML s  \ t )Lin;kL.s. 

CUAK.  (iapc  extremely  wide;  rittal  biisllo  witliout  Literal  filaments, 
(itiieral  color  dull  yr.iv  brown,  mottled  with  black,  while,  and  tawny; 
throat  with  collar  ot  white  or  tawnv ;  outer  t.iil-ieather>  partly  white; 
under  parts  gray  mottled  with  black.     Ixngth  yJi  to  10  inches. 

.Vest.  In  dense  woods  or  shady  dells;  eggs  laid  on  the  gronnd  or 
amid  dry  leaves. 

/j'vi'f.     2;  white  or  butfy  marked  brown  and  lavender  ;  i.\z  X  0.S5. 

This  remarkable  and  well-known  nocturnal  bird  arrives  in 
the  Southern  States  in  March,  and  in  the  MiiJdle  States  about 
the  close  of  April  or  the  beijinninti  of  .May.  and  proceeds  in 
its  vernal  migrations  along  the  .\tlanti(  States  to  the  centre 
of  Massachusetts,  being  seldom  seen  beyond  the  latitude  of 
43°;  and  yet  in  the  interior  of  the  continent,  acconiing  to 
\'ieillot,  it  continues  as  far  as  Hudson  l!ay,  and  was  heard,  as 
usual,  !)y  Mr.  Say  at  I'embino,  ;i  the  high  latitude  of  49°.  In 
all  this  vast  intermediate  space,  as  fctr  south  as  Natchez  on  the 
Mississip])i,  and  the  interior  of  Arkansas,  these  birds  familiarly 
l^reed  and  take  up  their  temjiorary  residence.  Some  also  i)ass 
the  winter  in  the  interior  of  Hast  Florida,  according  to  .Audu- 
bon. In  the  eastern  i)art  of  Massachusetts,  however,  they  are 
uncommon,  and  always  affect  sheltered,  wild,  and  hilly  situa- 
tions, for  which  they  have  in  general  a  preference.  .About 
the  same  time  that  the  sweetly  echoing  voice  of  the  Cuckoo  is 
first  heard  in  the  north  of  Muroi)e,  issuing  from  the  leafy 
groves  as  the  sure  harbinger  of  the  flowery  month  of  May, 
arrives  amongst  us,  in  the  shades  of  night,  the  mysterious 
W'hip-poor-ivill.  The  well-known  saddening  sound  is  first 
only  heard  in  the  distant  forest,  re-echoing  from  the  lonely  glen 
or  rocky  cliff;  at  length  the  oft-told  solitary  tale  is  uttered  from 
the  fence  of  the  adjoining  field  or  garden,  and  sometimes  the 
slumbering  inmates  of  the  cottage  are  serenaded  from  the  low 
roof  or  from  some  distant  shed.  Sui)erslition,  gathering  terror 
from  every  extraordinary  feature  of  nature,  has  not  suffered 
this  harmless  nocturnal  babbler  to  escajie  suspicion,  and  his 


.  1 


1 

I 

( 

■  1  *: 

1  ' 

I 

% 

h         <f;. 

;    J 

\l 


I 


'i      '  ! 


468 


GOATSUCKERS. 


familiar  approaches  are   sometimes   dreaded   as  an  omen   of 
misfortune. 

In  the  lower  part  of  the  State  of  Delaware,  I  have  found 
these  birds  troublesomely  abundant  in  the  breeding  season,  so 
that  tiie  reiterated  echoes  of  'whip-whip-podr-rvill,  \vhip-pen- 
will,  issuing  from  several  birds  at  the  same  time,  occasioned 
such  a  confused  vociferation  as  at  firs*^  to  banish  sleep.  This 
call,  except  in  moonlight  nights,  is  continued  usually  till  mid- 
night, when  they  cease  until  again  aroused,  for  a  while,  at  the 
coannencement  of  twilight.  The  first  and  last  syllables  of 
this  brief  ditty  receive  the  strongest  emphn.sis,  and  now  and 
then  a  >ort  of  guttural  'inck  is  heard  between  the  repetitions; 
but  the  whole  phrase  is  uttered  in  little  more  than  a  second 
of  time. 

Although  our  Whip-poor-will  seems  to  speak  out  in  such 
plain  i-.nglish,  to  the  ears  of  the  aboriginal  Delaware  its  call  was 
iL'ccoii/is,  though  this  was  probably  some  favorite  phrase  or 
interpretation,  which  served  it  for  a  name.  The  W'hip-poor- 
will,  when  engaged  in  these  nocturnal  rambles,  is  seen  to  tly 
within  a  few  feet  of  the  surface  in  quest  of  moths  and  other 
insects,  frequently,  where  abundant,  alighting  around  the  house. 
During  the  day  the  birds  retire  int'  die  dr.rkest  woods,  usually 
on  high  ground,  where  they  ])ass  the  time  in  silence  and 
repose,  the  weakness  of  their  sight  by  day  compelling  them 
t(j  avoid  the  glare   of   the   light. 

The  female  commences  laying  about  the  second  week  in 
May  in  the  Middle  States,  considerably  later  in  Massachusetts  ; 
she  is  at  no  jxiins  to  form  a  nest,  though  she  selects  for  her 
dejiosit  some  unfrecjuented  part  of  the  forest  near  a  pile  of 
brush,  a  heap  of  leaves,  or  the  low  shelving  of  a  hollow  rock, 
and  always  in  a  dry  situation  ;  here  she  lays  two  eggs,  without 
any  ai)])earance  of  an  artificial  bed.  This  deficiency  of  nest  is 
amply  made  up  by  the  provision  of  natme,  for.  like  Partridges, 
the  young  are  soon  able  to  run  about  after  their  parents  ;  and 
until  the  growth  of  their  feathers  they  seem  such  shapeless 
lumps  of  clay-colored  down  that  it  becomes  nearly  impossible 
to  distinguish  them  from  the  grountl  on  which  they  repose. 


WHIP-POOR-WILL 


469 


LS  an  omen  of 

,  I  have  found 
ling  season,  so 
oill,  ' whip-pen - 
me,  occasioned 
;h  sleep.  This 
isually  till  mid- 
a  while,  at  the 
Lst  syllables  of 
,  and  now  and 
he  repetitions  ; 
;  than  a  second 

ik  out    in    such 

ware  its  call  was 

orite   phrase   or 

I'he  Whip-poor- 

s,  is  seen  to  fly 

noths  and  other 

lund  the  house. 

woods,  usually 

in  silence    and 

mpelling  them 

iTond  week  in 

iMassachusetts  ; 

selects  for  her 

|near  a  pile   of 

a  hollow  rock, 

p  euss,  without 

|ency  of  nest  is 

like  Partridge  5, 

parents  ;  and 

^uch  shapeless 

irly  impossible 

|i  they  repose. 


NVere  a  nest  present  in  the  exposed  places  where  we  find  the 
young,  none  would  escape  detection.  The  mother  also,  taith- 
iul  to  her  charge,  deceives  the  passenger  by  prostrating  herself 
along  the  ground  Avith  beating  wings,  as  if  in  her  dying  agony, 
'i'he  activity  t)f  the  young  and  old  in  walking,  and  the  abscn«:e 
of  a  nest,  widely  distinguishes  these  birds  from  the  Swallows, 
with  which  tliey  are  associated.  A  young  fledged  bird  of  this 
species,  presented  to  me,  ran  about  with  great  celerity,  but 
refused  to  eat,  and  kept  continually  calhng  out  at  short  inter- 
vals pe-ugh  in  a  low.  mournful  note. 

After  the  period  of  incubation,  or  about  the  middle  of  June, 
the  vociferations  of  the  males  cease,  or  are  but  rarely  given. 
Towards  the  close  of  summer,  previously  to  their  departure, 
they  are  again  occasionally  heard,  but  their  note  is  now  languid 
and  seldom  uttered;  and  e  rly  in  September  they  leave  us  for 
the  more  genial  climate  of  tropical  America,  being  there  found 
giving  their  usual  lively  cry  in  the  wilds  of  Cayenne  and 
Demerara.  They  enter  the  United  States  early  in  March,  but 
are  some  weeks  probably  in  attaining  their  utmost  northern 
limit. 

Their  food  a])pears  to  be  large  moths,  beetles,  grasshoppers, 
ants,  and  such  insects  as  frequent  the  bark  of  decaying  timber. 
Sometimes,  in  the  dusk,  they  will  skim  within  a  few  feet  of  a 
]ierson,  making  a  low  chatter  as  they  pass.  They  also,  in  com- 
mon with  other  species,  flutter  occasionally  around  the  domes- 
tic cattle^  to  catch  any  inserts  which  a];proach  or  rest  upon 
them  ;  and  hence  the  mistaken  notion  of  their  sucking  goats, 
while  they  only  cleared  them  of  molesting  vermin. 

The  VVhip-poor-will  is  a  common  summer  resident  throuijhout 
New  England,  and  is  not  uncommon  in  the  Maritime  Provinces.  It 
is  common  also  in  Ontario,  and  Dr.  Robert  Bell  reports  finding  it 
in  the  southern  parts  of  the  Hudson  I5ay  rejiion.  Mr.  Thompson 
reports  it  common  in  .Manitoba.  These  birds  winter  in  Florida  and 
southward. 


; 

1 

H 

1 

i 

t 

I 

h 


1 1 


ill 


ii 


1        .J 

R^tll 

'\ 

( 

I 

'   : 

ft 

1 

i 

I 

1 

i  I't 

NIGHTHAWK. 

GOATSUCKER.     HULL    BAT. 

ChoRDKII.KS    MRdlNIAXUS. 

Char.  Male;  above,  dull  black  mottled  with  brown  and  gray:  winirs 
brown,  a  patch  of  white  on  five  outer  primaries;  tail  dusky,  with  bars  of 
gaay  and  a  jiatch  of  white  near  the  extremity;  lower  ])arts  reddish  white 
with  bars  of  brown;  thr(3at  with  ]>atch  of  white.  Female:  similar,  but 
without  white  on  the  tail.     I^en^th  about  o'i  inches. 

.'Vfs/.  Usually  in  oi)en  woods  ;  the  eggs  generally  laid  ujjon  a  rock  or 
on  the  turf,  —  sometimes  thev  are  laid  on  a  gravel  roof  in  a  city. 

E^if^i^s.  2  ;  dull  white  or  buff,  thickly  mottled  with  brown,  slate,  and 
lilac:  1.25  X  0.S5. 

Towards  the  close  of  April  the  Nighthawks  arrive  in  the 
Middle  States,  and  early  in  May  they  are  first  seen  near  the 
sea-coast  of  Massachusetts,  which  at  all  times  appears  to  be  a 
favorite  resort.  In  the  interior  of  the  continent  they  penetrate 
as  far  as  the  sources  of  the  Mississii)iM,  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  the  Territory  of  Oregon  ;  they  are  hkewise  observed 
around  the  dreary  coasts  of  Hudson  Bay  and  the  remotest 
Arctic  islands,  breeding  in  the  whole  intermediate  region  to 
the  more  temjierate  and  elevateo  parts  of  (ieorgia.  They  are 
now  commonly  seen  towards  evening,  in  ])airs,  sailing  round  in 
sweeping  circles  high  in  the  air.  occasionally  descending  lower 


^^1 


NIOHTHAWK. 


47 » 


,vn  and  gray  ;  \vinE;s 

dusky,  with  bars  uf 

l)arts  reddish  wliite 

male  :  similar,  hut 

laid  ujxin  a  rock  or 
|iii  a  city, 
brown,  slate,  and 

• 

Is  arrive  in  the 
1st  seen  near  the 
I  appears  to  be  a 
they  penetrate 
jcky  Mountains, 
lewise  observed 
1(1  the  remotest 
[diate  region  to 
rgia.  They  are 
Laihng  round  in 
[scending  lower 


to  capture  flying  insects,  «  hietly  of  the  larger  kind,  such   as 
wasps,    beetles,   and   moths.     About  the  middle   of   May,  or 
later,  the  female   selects   some  open   spot  in  the  woods,  the 
corner   of  a   corn-field   or    dry   gravelly    knoll,   on    which   to 
deposit   her  eggs,  which  are  only  two,  and  committed  to  the 
hare  ground,  where,  however,  from  the  similarity  of  their  tint 
with  the  soil,  they  are,  in  fact,  more  secure  from  obser\ation 
than  if  placed  in  a  nest.      Here  the  male  and  his  mate  reside 
during  the   i)eri(jd  of  incubation,  roosting  at  a  distance  from 
each  other  on  the  ground  or  in  the  neighboring  trees;  an«l  in 
consequence  of  the  particular  formation  of  their  feet,  like  the 
rest  of  the  genus,  they  roost  or  sit  lengthwise  on  the  branch. 
1  )uring  the  progress  of  incubation  the  female  is  seen  frequently, 
for  some  hours  before  nightfall,  playing  about  in  the  air  over 
the  favorite  spot,  mounting  in  wide  circles,  occasionally  pro- 
l)elled  by  alternate  quick   and  slow  vibrations  of  the  wings, 
until  at  times  he   nearly  aricends  beyond  the  reach  of  sight, 
and   is   only   known   by   his  sharf)  and  sudden  squeak,  which 
greatly  resembles  the  flying  shriek  of  the  towering  .Swift.     At 
other  times  he  is  seen  suddenly  to  precipitate  himself  down- 
wards for  6o  or  8o  feet,  and  wheeling  up  again  as  rapitUy  ;  at 
which    instant    a    hollow  whirr,   like   the    rapid   turning  of  a 
spinning-wheel  or  a  strong  blowing  into  the  bung-hole  of  an 
emjny  hogshead,  is  heard,  and  supposed  to  be  produced  by 
the  action  of  the  air  on  the  wings  or  in  the  0|)en  mouth  of  the 
bird.     He  then  again  mounts  as  before,  playing  about  in  his 
ascent  and  giving  out  his  harsh  squeak  till  in  a  few  moments 
the  hovering  is  renewed  as  before  ;  and  at  this  occupation  the 
male   solely  continues   till   the  close  of  tAvilight.     The   Euro- 
pean  (ioatsucker   is   heard    to    utter    the    hollow  whirr  when 
perched  and  while  holding  it  heail  downwards,  so  that  it  does 
not  appear  to  be   produced  by  the  rushing  of  the  air.     The 
female,  if  disturbed  while  sitting  on  her  charge,  will  suffer  the 
spectator  to  advance  within  a  foot  or  two  of  her  before  she 
leaves  the  nest ;  she  then  tumbles  alx)ut  ami  flutters  with  an 
appearance   of  lameness  to   ilraw  (^ff  the    obsener,   when   at 
length  she   mounts   into  the   air  and  disappears.     On   other 


lit. 


F)  .' 


47^ 


GOATSUCKERS. 


ii; 


I  ! 


,  t 


(H 


Ii 

m 

>      t 

HI 

I:       <l 

^' 

'I 

H 

1 

occasions  the  parent,  probably  the  attending  male,  puffs  him- 
self up  as  it  were  into  a  ball  of  feathers ;  at  the  same  time 
striking  his  wings  on  the  ground  and  opening  his  capacious 
mouth  to  its  full  extent,  he  stares  wildly  and  utters  a  blowing 
hiss  like  that  of  the  liarn  Owl  when  surprised  in  his  hole.  On 
observing  this  grotesque  manujuvre,  and  this  appearance  so 
unlike  that  of  a  volatile  bird,  wc  are  struck  with  the  propriety 
•  of  the  metaphorical  French  name  of  Crapaud  vo/aiis,  ox 
Flying  Toad,  which  this  bird  indeed  much  resembles  while 
thus  shapelessly  tumbling  before  the  astonished  spectator. 
'I'he  same  feint  is  also  made  when  he  is  wounded,  on  being 
a])proached.  IJke  some  of  the  other  species,  instinctively 
vigilant  for  the  safety  of  their  misshapen  and  tender  brood, 
these  birds  also  probably  convey  them  or  the  eggs  from  the 
scrutiny  of  the  meddling  obser\er.  In  our  climate  they  have 
no  more  than  a  single  brood. 

Sometimes  the  Ni,!.];hthawk,  before  his  departure,  is  seen  to 
visit  the  towns  and  cities,  sailing  in  circles  and  uttering  his 
squeak  as  he  flies  high  and  securely  over  the  busy  streets, 
occasionally  sweeping  down,  as  usual,  with  his  whirring  notes  ; 
and  at  times  he  may  be  observed,  e\'en  on  the  tops  of  chim- 
neys, uttering  his  harsh  call.  In  gloomy  weather  these  birds 
are  abroad  nearly  the  whole  day,  but  are  most  commonly  in 
motion  an  hour  or  two  before  dusk.  Sometimes  indeed  they 
are  seen  out  in  the  brightest  and  hottest  weather,  and  occa- 
sionally, while  basking  in  the  sun,  find  means  to  give  chase  to 
the  Cicindtii,  Carabi,  and  other  entirely  diurnal  insects,  as 
well  as  grasshoppers,  with  which  they  often  gorge  themselves 
in  a  surprising  manner ;  but  they  probably  seldom  feetl  more 
than  an  hour  or  two  in  the  course  of  the  day.  On  Wappatoo 
Island,  at  the  estuary  of  the  Wahlamet,  they  were  till  the  loth 
of  September  numerous  and  familiar,  alighting  often  close  to 
the  dwellings,  in  quest  probably  of  crawling  insects  which  come 
out  in  the  dark. 

About  the  middle  of  August  they  begin  their  migrations 
towards  the  south,  on  which  occasion  they  may  be  seen  in  the 
evening  moving  in  scattered  flocks  consisting  of  several  hun- 


Ll    ■    i 


male,  puffs  him- 
Lt  the  same  time 
ng  his  capacious 
utters  a  blowing 
in  his  hole.     On 
s  appearance  so 
th  the  propriety 
paud  volaiis,  (jr 
resembles  while 
ishecl    spectator, 
undeil,  on  being 
ies,   instinctively 
1  tender  brood, 
e  eggs  from  the 
imate  they  have 

ture,  is  seen  to 
nd  uttering  his 
le  busy  streets, 
whirring  notes  ; 
le  tops  of  chim- 
her  these  birds 
St  commonly  in 
nes  indeed  they 
ther,  and  occa- 
to  give  chase  to 
rnal  insects,  as 
•rge  themselves 
dom  feed  more 

On  \\'api)atoo 
?re  till  the  loth 

often  close  to 
:ts  which  come 


NH;i  I'll  [AUK. 


473 


dreds  together,  and  darting  after  insects  nr  r  r  ,  • 
t'-y  advance  towards  mL  co^  ^  d^m!' "V"^"" '  " 
tl--  weeks  these  processions  along  the  rit  n  .  7-  T  "' 
tcndmg  towards  their  destination    are  sH)  '"''  ^^''"'^•^' 

^^•'tli  the  wandering  host      e  ■  """^'""^d.     Mingled 

speciesof  swaiio  '^tf.::  K  r:;"r  t^"  ^^^  ^'^^  ^'■''--■- 

'"   l^abits  and  charact:^  ^^  ^  ^^^  Tf  ""^' ^'''^'^ 
^vhole  busy  troop  have  disappearL/lor  T^^"^""'  '- 

-own  Of  the  eggs  being  ^ounclt^ue^unrgrr'— ^'S 


Note. -The  Fu,„u,a    \i,,,m,  uvk 

"";;"• '  -"-^i'"  "«.  breed,  i,. ,.,;: u, 

*  fill t  coast. 


(C 


a   and   westward   on   the 


END   OF   VOL.    I. 


leir  migrations 

be  seen  in  the 

)f  several   hun- 


